ARCH 1 CHPT 1

“…for I was hungry, and you fed me…”
Thursday, 5 Nov 2026, 10:40ish am EST
Outskirts of NRQZ, West Virginia

..
.

“Big boom ice-cream spoon! Scoopy, wavy, yumchius, cold and moist.
Grounded Ritz, make it snow, choco-drizzle, take and go!”

steps out with a bowl for two 🍨

“Now whAt we have hEy-er is a super snack, worthy of us royalty eh Naly-girl?
Little peace offering for anyth- now wait here just a minute ya little sass-mouth back on up a bit!
This be plenty enough for the the both of us, you can get some after I get some how’s about that?
Besides, this chocolatey part’s no good for ya anyway s0o0o…
Mmmmmm-hmmmmm. Yup yup, that there be heaven alright…”

Short snort

Oh! OH, Of course, one moment, let’s get the buggy to play us up some’ of ’em jams we like so much,
nice and low this time though”

”” …♪ sloooww do0o0o0own you craazy child ♪ …””
“Mm, that’s the stuff.”

hoove clops
Leans back in next to her on their familiar wood fence meeting spot

“Alrighty now, darlin’, not trying to scares ya but, I gots some real talk for ya,
and from what I heard we ain’t got much time left.
Pretty sure you done noticed that big ol’ cloud over-yonder there already…
“… it’s kinda pretty i s’pose…”

A new kind of panoramia engulfed them; the shed, the fields, the hills and mountains tinted overtones of olive,
shades of emerald and jades from a glowy light-soaked overcast.
Variable beams of sun-shine shone through and throughout the landscape in a slo0ow yellow light show.
Vic notes the familiar black specs as far as they have ever been in the distance

have i been forgiven

The clouds shadow under it was a light show on the ground.
“Can’t believe our eyes right?”

The rain soundscape was brilliant.
quiet

“that’s got to be at least, ten million fireflies out there under that cloud, haven’t seen not even one in so long…
…we must be dreamin’ together right now, right? That’s a thing?…”

Looming silence.
They stood awestruck, staring.
Nala’s eyes and ears in attention.
The panoramia was unpausing in it’s conquest over everything.
it communicated grace and mercy; it commanded fear and admiration.

“Naly ehm – I ain’t have no answers for either of us on this here dilemma problem.
It’s anybody’s guess on how or why this is happening.
All’s i can tells you is that them folks in town were ruffled up something awful ‘bout;
armygeddon and the downpour that’s coming.”

“Many folks and neighbors were holding hands out there, crowding together, hugging”
and there were guns, yelling, and animals in so many makeshift cages
“One feller says that before the big switches went out that no one knows what this rain is, they are saying so far that – that when the rain hits
it’s going to be life or death.
For sure its got miracle powers.
can turn animals into people…
…or vanish bodies.

“ …So it’s… …yeah. That’s everythin’ I could gather before…
…its all banana-nut muffins in picnic baskets out there I tell you what.”

Vic’s a senior. 
He woke up this morning thinking this was the right day to do his thing in town; spoil himself a little, maybe check out a new book.
He put on his best denim overalls and everything.  He was looking forward to this today.
He hadn’t left his spot in months and was likely to see Dorothy again, and that would have been great.

This is it.
This today may very well be your last, and if not, whatever comes after is gonna be another more unknown.
keep it together ol’ man. unknowns are always better than goodbyes. You’re not done here.
Keep it together. Stuff that integrity back in there.  stand up now.
Nala needs you right now. Nothing else here, nothing more.
It’s just rain at the heart of it. You’ve been through worse.

“…We all be like, little water buckets. Just trying to find gentle streams or ponds to mix in with. Nobody likes any turbulence and storms”
Vic curled in a few more spoonfulls of chill-cream and sugar, while he mad-doggs the impossible element blooming in front of him.
…At least we gots’ some kind of heads up for goodbyes; that’s more than others get.
make the most of it, for all it’s worth.
He sees some dark ground fluttering in the distance. Shadows coming. Running. Bopping. Bumping. Hiding. wanting.
scurrying. crying. Getting closer.

No, they didn’t stay back. Not now please.
Please i’m begging you. I’m sorry, i’m always sorry, please know i’m sorry, i’ve always been sorry.
please not now.
calm down, look away

He looks away from everything, instead to Nala.

Solid.
Majestic.
Breathing.
Alive.

She always made things better just by being there.
You have to say something.
Don’t screw up another last goodbye moment.

He tries best he can to keep himself together and mood up, but his hands tremble and remind him that the situation is serious.
Vic presses the bowl to his chest, lowering the risk of it falling down; crashing; spilling.

“I know what they sayin’ makes no sense, but being under green clouds makes no sense either yet here we are ain’t we…
…this may be our last snackety-snack together and.
“…I’m uh, scared Naly-girl…”

“Niiiiiiiiiiicker!”

“O’ Dang it you right! Can’t go on and eat all this all by myself now, that wasn’t the plan. 😅
Here’s ya go ya big girl you, yummeny yum yums… you enjoy this now, take your time now…
…s0ooo guooud, yeaah!”

Vic rub rubs pat pats her neck as she chows down the little sugar hills in delight.
She made quick work of the sweets.

“That hits the spot now eh? Haha, Good treat ain’t it?  One moment, you’s got some.. …you’s got some mess on you there.
There there ya go now ya big baby face, a little wipetty-wipe make it all better.”

Vic wiped Nala’s rubbery mouth, gave her an affectionate shoulder-to-shoulder bump, and brought the empty bowl back in.

Does this rain really put us down at random.
Why is it here.
Doesn’t matter.
Nala has to make it, she just has to. No time for nothin’. Why you washin’ this now. We’re all there is, not these plates, go back outside and say goodbye.
Was this morning real. You here right. I don’t know whether I’m alive and dreaming or dead and remembering. Nothing you can do about this.
Nothing matters. Sleep-walking, that’s what’s happening. Hope. Night terrors is all.
All’s gonna be okay, because this is not really happening. It’s kinda cold out.
She may need to make it out there. without you.
…This world…
She’s going to need help. Guidance and protection.

Crisp frost water flowed over his hands, biting into him harder at the tune of the soft breeze coming in from the tiny window by his tiny sink.
Vic feels it, unable to mind it, as this is really happening.
He finished cleaning the bowl. Splashes his face but nothing changes.

That quilt on the couch is big enough, it’ll do the trick.
Can Keep her warm… …please be safe

“Alley oop! Nice and comfy for ya dear”
Vic smiles warmly to himself as he adjusts the quilt, making small pulls and tugs here and there to cover her better.

“So I gaves it all a lotta thought on my drive back…
“Bucket kicking for me is no big whoop, by all means I shouldn’t still be here but, here, i’m still here right?
That’s a good thing to reckon.  That has to be for something.
It’s you getting hurt, or turning into a person with no one there for ya that’s sloshing my boots.
we gots’ no idea what to expect. Don’t know what’s going to happen.
I want you to be okay, I.
I won’t let this rain hurt ya, I promise.
There’s no need to be worried, it’s all going to be okay.”

making promises you can’t keep isn’t you. what’yer gonna’ do…
to fix this

Head down, ashamed. Vic rolls dirt over the tip of his boot with his other foot.
draws hanky, blows nose.

Nala nudges her head onto Vics shoulder and beard for scratchies to her face and ears.
“YeaaaaAh so guooooud, you like that after snack scratchy-scratch don’t ya?”
Vic livens up and chuckles in delight at being in the best of company here and now.

“look at you, so guooooooud scratchy-scratchety-scratches, thAt’s a happy girl!” 😊

Vik stairs @ pawcet wtch, futilitie commcts; wurds und cl0ck-workrs none longer melts sensei.

snappo atit. snap outta it.
wake up. Breathe. Wake up.
Wake up now, back to reality ol’ man.
A goodbye proper comes first, it’s a good thing, the right thing

“Now now, pay attention Nala dear. Don’t know if you can hear me or unders-. Listen, before that rain hits us, this is just in case ok?
Whatever happens happens, so don’t be scared.
In that there shed are books and stuff, some clothes, a gun, and all the food and money I have left.
Cash is under a corner floor board, should be enough to get you by a few weeks.
Them solar panels and buggy batts in the back are going to be important to keep tip-top for the fridge and water-pump. 
Treat the system right and it will be kind right back at ya.
Plenty of tools and scrap stuffs around here, and throughout the area deeper in the tree-lines you’ll see a few mini-gardens and fruit shrubs and things.
You know some of them already…”

“… I guess maybe, maybe I shouldn’t leave you the gun? I don’t want you hurting yourself.
I left it extra high up on the shelf.  Be careful, that thing is dangerous, always point it away from you.
Also, the propane tank adapter sticks sometimes, but if ya hold it bye the-…”
Oh dear, she might not know how to use a can-opener, those lids can be wick’d sharp if she does it wrong or is careless. Would she even be able to start a fire safely.
No way of knowing right. trust that she’ll be okay if you are not there is all. No more advice.
Love and goodbye. That’s all there is when there simply is no time left…
…Time enough to tell her you care about her. No matter what happens that’s simply the right thing, the best thing, likely last thing…

Draws hanky again; more snot.
looking down

“…Nevermind all tha- I mean, if I don’t make it dear, just know that the shed and buggy are there for you.
If it helps in any way, then that would make everything worth it.
Be careful, always be careful. Careful of what you are doing and why, and careful with who you meet.
Just make sure to lay low and not get any attention until you’re ready to leave, the shed’s not suppo-

vvvPitter pattervvv

The Pitter patter is here. It’s over. 
If one of us has to draw the short straw, be me.

be me.  You hear me rain.  me for her.

“Gotta tell ya Nala.
You’ve rescued me more times than you’ll ever know.
I mean to say.
You mean the world to me.
Thank you for being there, for being you.
I hope you remember me, that would be a nice thing.
I hope it’s good memories you have and keep, that I did right by you.”

Old man Vic hugged Nala’s neck and chuckled nervously.
Sadfully. Fearfully.

Nala scratched her forehead on his, bumping Vic slightly off balance with a gentle lovey-dovey headbutt.
“whoah now”, Vic chuckled awkwardly over his stifled tears, petrifying himself tighter into their embrace.

The terrible thought.
of losing his bestie

“…It’s all gonna be okay…”

Vvv Pitter-patter vvv pitter-patter vvV
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/\/\/\/\/\/\vvvvvv/\/ \/\/\//\/\ /\/\/vvvvvvvvv/\/\/\/\ \/\/\/\/\/\/\ <>  [   11:11 am   ]  <> \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\//\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/vvvvvvvvv/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ 

The pitter-patter enveloped and penetrated over everything in, under and around it.
Countless drops rendered all reality to a saturated lemon lime, every tap ghostly, bright and warm.
The crash aura around all outlines were riddled with micro-bursts of thunder rumble, leaving a surreal,
light powdery static that drowned out all noise and tickled the skin.

A breeze with the reserves of tornados cleanly separated the embrace.

The storm was its own environment, the harder you fought, the more you felt it.
Old man Vic fought it, he resisted, he gave it all his might.
Mighty as he was, he couldn’t do anything past being locked down on his hands and knees
as he struggled viscerally to protect Nala from the supernatural.

The greenery around him cementing him in place, he heaved like a bull-moose to no gains nor avail whatsoever.
His weathered arms failed him.
He finally gave out to the air forces engulfed on him, he was pinned to the earth,
stuck helplessly under the fire-fly rain in a balasana until finally this impossible show of force began to dissipate.

/\/\/\/\/\/\vvvvvv/\/ \/\/\//\/\ /\/\/vvvvvvvvv/\/\/\/\ \/\/\/\/\/\/\ <>  [   11:11 am   ]  <> \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\//\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/vvvvvvvvv/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
vv/\/vvvv/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/vvvvvvvvv/\\/\/vvvvvv\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\vvvvvv/\/ \/\/\//\/\ /\/\/vvvvvvvvv/\/\/\/\ \/\\/\vv/\/ \/\/\//\/\ /\/\/vvvvvvvv\\//\/\/\/\//\/\/\/vvvvvvvvv/\\/\/vvvvvv\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\vvvvvv/\/ \/\/\//\/\ /\/\/vvvvvvvvv/\//\ \/\/\/\/\/\ \/\/\/\/\/\/vvvvvv\/vv/\//\/vvvv/\\/vWFfatedDW/\/\/\/vvvvvv/\//\vvvvvvv/\/\/vv/\/\/vv
Vvv Pitter-patter vvv pitter-patter vvV


..
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VvvPitter-pattervvv

The panoramia cleared away.
The local ambiance returned, the ground was not wet, nothing was wetted, and it was getting cold again.
The pitter patter awayed itself and the green scene and clouds it brought let up their anchors on this reality.
he tried calming breaths to work his energies back up as he soldier-prone crawled over to Nala.

Oh dear it happened, it’s over. this is her, it’s her!
She’s…
no no no no… Nala, no.
…she is not moving. Not breathing! What is this!? no no! Please no. be alive please

Nala was stiff, frigid cold, eyes closed, sideways face down on the dirt, human; with horsey ears, large mane for hair, fur with freckles speckled throughout her body and legs; feathering on her writs and ankles, and a literal ponytail.

Vic’s forearms were impossibly heavy and light.
“Oh dear no, please this isn’t true, this ain’t right”
Vic adjusted the quilt to cover her better.

“No no this ain’t happening come on now Naly-bear, you got this. Let’s get you up. You’re okay. Get up now.”
He patted her shoulder for attention, then tried to shake her awake, gently at first, shaking harder the harder as the desperation inside him grew to a quiet crescendo of total unacceptance.
And then came the shame.

Finding himself so rudely imposing on Nala’s sacred moment, invading her space, shaking her body.
Naly girl is at peace now. She is at peace now. peace is good. leave her be. rest is good.

Vic continued to deteriorate physically and mentally into a decrescendo of futility, sobbing apologies, and crushing nihilism over her lifeless mound.

”” …♪ aaand the microphone smells like beeeeeeeer ♪ …””

Couldn’t protect her. Can’t protect anybody. That was my everybody.
alone now. You’re in shock. Calm down. no, they are coming.
They’re gonna come for me. They gonna bring her with ’em and I can’t handle that. you know, them empty eyes.
I can’t change the past.  I can’t change anything. You’re in shock. Calm down.
What are you doing.  Leave her alone.  She’s at peace.  take your pain elsewhere.

At his own incessant scolding to respect his dearly departed friend, he toddled himself up and struggled to find balance, lifting with him the soaking wet sacks of cement in his chest.  He stumbled over to the buggy and cut the ignition.

“Cheers buggie. Cheers Billie, you’ve been good to us”

Old man Vic isn’t there anymore. Grenades and mortar and napalm lungs surrounded him again. Scorched earth, cooked death.
Shooting. Screaming.  Killings after killings of vulnerable humble folks in sandals and sunhats, small, elderly, defenseless.
panic and chaos.  The worst of all feelings, the helplessness, the treason, the plot… of killing and being killed by your own in a shared world.
Total complete utter horrors.  zombieland, blood everywhere like cranberry floods.
A liquid spear dome pulls Vic from the breastplate back inside to safety from the bullet whizzes and silent explosions outside.

…Vic drags his step-stool in place.
That’s it. Safe space.
At least I got a heads up and said my goodbyes.
No more of this. No more of that. No more of anything no more no thank you.

Reaching around the top shelf he patted around.
The dust is dry, where’s it at.
Too much hurt. No more hurt.
dang pez dispenser is up here somewhere, gotta hurry up and-

Vic takes pause.

You’re timing this wrong. The right thing would be to bury Naly-girl first.
Can I even bring myself around to do it. So tired of all this. Can’t bury my bestie.
you can. I can’t. you will.
She shouldn’t be… Vic moans in pain. despair.
…it should’a picked me. I didn’t have to stay. The world made a mistake.
She belonged here. She belonged…

Sobs. Snot. Sleeve-wipes.
More hurt. More sobs.

She never hurt a soul. You remember her running around, rolling in the grass, fun in the sun, fun in the mud… …Nobody else out here to bury her.
Nature will come.
The vultures will rip her to ribbons. The field mice will steal chunks of her away. then there’s the maggots and flies…
…You cared about her.  You care about her.  You can’t keep running from your job as a person.
No excuses. i just cant do it. just do it.

stop walking away from dignity, and honor.

victims everywhere. The finders, seekers, hunters, predators, rapists were let loose, made a show of it and then took a lunch break.
shoot more, more shooting. So easy, just aim and squeeze.  Brutal fire slaughter, sends a message, a loud message.  You can hear it.
Why isn’t anybody helping them.  The tools are being used wrong here.
Why aren’t I helping them?  When’s the stop-gap coming?  I don’t want to be here.
If they kill them all, who’s going to bury the bodies.  we never bury bodies, we bury the evidence.
Kill them in ditches.  BAM! Their butchering them ALL.
BAM BAM. “RUMBLE”S, trees shaking, sky’s shaking. helicopters. is this what hope sounds like? chop chop chop chop woot woot woot woot. copter’s comin’.
somethings happening. World’s shakin’.

Can’t just leave Nala like you lef-BAM!-

“Shneeeeeoooooooooouuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr”

Old man fell off his make-me-taller and crashed onto the floor in happrise.
Hurt like an egg drop, elbow and thigh badly bruised, he tried to get up and there was an ugly sounding back-pop.
knife pains in it. No matter though. His ears weren’t tricking him.
Those weren’t wishing-bullets overhead, that wasn’t what death sounds like.
something else, something strong and lively.

He was hit with the loudest snore he ever heard and that’s just fine by him any day any lifetime.
he paused in disbelief.
there it was again.
“Rumble grumble – Shneeeeoooooouuuuurrr.”
Keep ‘em coming. strong snores is strong lungs!

Vic Joyfully skippity-limped his way outside to celebrate his friend.
He sees her there. There she is. Alive! Alight! She took deep breathes and breathed and rested beautifully.

She was… …completely un-wakeable.

After a few minutes of asking, prodding, shouting, and footsy sole-tickling to no avail, he had to take her inside to shelter her from the outside sun.
With her being kinda bigger than himself, the challenge for Vic was that she was as heavy as she looked.
Undefeatable and as motivated as he has ever been, Vic rolled her onto a makeshift dolley he put together and wheeled her inside, wrecking his old joints to his limits trying to get her as gently as possible onto the couch.
It took him a lot of discomfort, sweaty-slips, loud grunts, a few cuss words and experience in exercising leverage.

From the couch he picked out, brushed off and washed clean the dirt and grime off on Nala; and crash dusted the quilt against the fence and then put it back over her. Helped her head onto the pillow, the work was done only when she looked nice and comfty. 👌

A global miracle. and the whole world was in on it.
Will more rain and miracles come. Is this over. Is there more rain coming. No time to worry about that now s’pose.
Best hurry up and see what can be done for clothing for her, some of my bigger clothes might just fit, and they are already clean.
She’s a guest, have to make the place more presentable.
Hope she doesn’t wake up scared. Will she remember me. Will she ever wake up?
She sure can snore up something fearce.
She’s wonderfull. Best go get them clothes for her.

Vic got to anxiously sewing.  Wiped the place down.  Picked the place up. 
Re-organized and re-decorated a smidge here and there.
He fetched some dry branches for the wood-stove.

At 9pm’ish that evening Nally woke up sheltered and warm to a well lit room and the sound of cackling fire nearby.
She rubbed the buggers out of her eyes and stretched out wide. 
Satisfying stretchies out of the way, somewhat awake, she held her covers as she sat up, looked around lost, hazey, timid.

Old man Vic tried his best to restrict his excitement, suspense and jitters at seeing her awake.
As non-threateningly as he could with his palms out and gentle gestures he sat down across from her, lightly bumping the metal coffee table between them along the way.
He tried to speak and act as clearly as he could.

“Hey Nala dear, hello, can you understand me? It’s okay, I’m a friend.”

Nala wakey-drunkenly perked herself up in the couch keeping her body covered, and quickly began gaining alertness. 
Blurs became more solid.  Muffles; distinct.

“I, I don’t know if you can understand me in any way… …, emm-hem, good morning Nala?
I mean, good eve, i mean eh- yeah, good morning Nala, can ya hear me?”

“Jan pona?”

“Wowsers, you can talk!
Okay okay that’s good! but eh, I’m sorry Nala, I don’t know quite what ya sayin’ there.
Emmm, havla la espaniol-o? ohio-go-zamas-toyota? Sin chow?”

Nala smiled politely and in confusion.
Nala was unable to understand this animated character’s words, he seems nice, it feels safe in here.
She looks in silent awe around her, focusing on everything that is here and now.
Nala begins to get the realization that she does not know where she is,
who she is, or what is what, and starts paying attention to the only other alive thing in the room.
Nala felt vulnerable, and was beginning a little anxious for guidance on what to expect next.

“Nothing eh? Um, maybe you know french? Like Bon-appetit’ cherries?
Oh dear! eh, oh boy, yeah, this is your first day here.
I mean, your first day here like this, ummmm.
Chucks, what am I gonna- ah! I know! Of course! You must be hungry, you must have worked up an appetite after all that sleeping, let’s start fixin’ us a hot meal for ya just in case, see what happens.”

Vic gets up and with gentle expressions makes his way to the kitchen a few feet away.

“I hope you like beans and some coffee maybe?
No no, water would be best for you I mean, you just came to life and all.
I mean, became a person and all… Or maybe you need milk like some kind of newborn?… …I don’t have any milk… …I … don’t think you know what that is.”

have no idea what she can eat or drink, she could even be allergic. are we over-thinking.
Just, play it safe, waters good for now, beans should be fine. It’s got that nitrogen, that’s a good simple thing. Simple things.
simple is always good.

Nala looks at herself in her quilt, exploring, and looks at Vic and notes Vic does not need his hands to hold his quilts up, its shaped differently.
Vic was sensitive to her confusion

Yikeys, pause the beans! the clothing! Maybe that’s what she was asking about. Where’d I put em again? Ah, right
“Here’s some clothing for ya friend. It ain’t much in fashion shows, but they’re clean and should do for now for coverin’ you up.
Heres ya go now, I’ll turn aroun- gah! Nala! Wait just a second!  Sorry!”

Nala had went to receive with both hands the offering and dropped her quilt, Vic push-dropped the clothing on her while shying away and hopped a 180 in embarrassment and Nala reset herself back as well in surprise and uneasiness, worried, noting the open shed door behind him.

Snap out of it old man, don’t shame the poor thing, you 9 years old or something?
Naly-girl must be hungry and scared and going through a lot right now herself so grow up, she needs ya jack-ass

Vic calmly turned back around to face her and went back to slowing his speech and hand movements down.

“So sorry shug, it’s okay, it’s okay go on now and get dressed.
This is how you do it. You can do it this way also. oh, and also, if you do this that way, then this does that and viola would ya look at that! 
If I pull or tug it stays there.”

Vic did some goofy charade instruction while speaking and made exagerated gestures for getting dressed.
He took off and put back on his jacket, emphasizing his button’s and how they interacted with the slit on the other side.
He then put on a towel he had at the ready and mimicked that it had buttons, making a happy exclamation face clapping and cheering when done.  He then took another towel and showed how to tie a quick know without buttons.

Vic gestured for her to get dressed while he covered his eyes with his hands as he turned around to face the kitchen space, with sing song “one missississippi-sippi dove, two missississippi-sippi bugs, three missississippi sippi frogs, four…”

Nala let out an amused smile and laugh at the old man’s charades and games, and worked on getting herself dressed with renewed interest and ease.
She took on the red flannel shirt first, made sense of the sleeves and openings, using her memory of Vic’s show for reference, played with the buttons until she finally got the concept and made short work of the rest.

Moving on to the next article, Vic had sown two cream colored bath towels in such as way that it acted like a full coverage cotton skirt with two huge buttons that held together on the side within slight stretchy tension against her hips. Nala beamed at the thoughtful gifts; the complexities and transformation coming from the button locks, the feeling of the fresh fit and different soft cloth textures on her short fur skin and finger tips.
She clapped, at first taken back at the impact of her first clap, and then practice soft to louder and smiled as loudly as she could to get his attention. 
Nala was triumpant, proud and confident in her participation and that she did something for herself.

“…and twenty-five mississippi-sippi bats”

Vic turned around.  Nala wasn’t much larger than Vic, but her physique was imposing.
He was stunned by her presence for a moment, quick to recover and applauded her achievement in makeshift sign-languages, bouncy energy and celebratory vibes.

He was happily relieved that the fit was good, and even happier she was happy about it despite how modest it was.

she’s being nice to me… …bless her. Getting dressed was not an issue for her, she learns pretty fast, only took her ‘bout a minute or so, she’s not a baby. Don’t think she remembers me… Would be nice if she does. Going to be tough learning to understand her. What language could she be speaking? Is it some kind of outer-space language.  Did she say pony.  I don’t think she said that, don’t ask her that.
Uh-oh, this is goin’ to be awkward.

She gestured she felt uncomfortable, as if she needed to go to the bathroom.
Vic showed her the small clean bench-toilet-shower space in the rear of the shed behind a curtain as well as a zip-locked bag of baby wipes.
He made simple gestures of going to the bathroom, relief, and highlighted the cleaning wipe purpose.
After the second repeat of this she nodded in understanding and he stepped out of the shed completely to give her space and privacy.

Air is brisk and dense outside.

Not a cloud out here. Wanin’ crescent. stars are all up as expected.  How can so much have happened in just one day?
The entire world must be off its atlas right now out there. Nala is a person now. Can’t believe it

Vic rubs his sore arm from his fall earlier, doesn’t think anything was broken today. 
The excitement and shock is wearing out and the reality of age old back and body pains is creeping back in.
He meditated on the situation, staring off into everywhere contemplating what was going on and what to do next.

I’m so glad Nala’s ok. Those poor folks and animals in town. Hope Dorothy is okay out there. will I ever see her again
Nala walked out next to Vic, arms crossed against the cold.
She was star-struck from above, the mountain and hill horizons towered over her.
Her truths to that point were simple for her to appreciate.
It was small and cozy inside, it is cold and scary outside.

They quietly kept each other company as they had done for years before while looking out.
Nala could feel herself as a small speck, belittled by everything around her except Vic, who has been so nice and makes her feel attended.
The outdoors is different.

She could feel the earth slowly dull it’s way up the soles of her foot. She curled her feet to minimize this cold touch effect, occasionally lifting a foot off the ground to slow this feeling down.
Nala is hoping he will go back in and welcome her to follow him.

Everything is so different and new to her. I feel she is the same Nala, but if she can’t remember me, then maybe she can’t remember herself before the change also. If so then who is she. Is her name even Nala anymore. Is she a new person, the same person or another person. Will her memory return if it is not there. She is definitely a person even though she looks a little different, how else would she have know how to nod, quickly do things… …her words earlier were deliberate, she hasn’t said anything else, but she can definitely speak, so she does have a language, she communicates perfectly… …She always did nodds before, but, no, that’s wasn’t the same. Maybe she’ll start getting her memory back. Are there even any memories at all for animal people. do others also have the same language. does she… …It’s only been one day. You’re doing it again. Stop forgetting what’s important.
Keep it simple or your going to burn out the ol’ wick. Nala is our friend. We care about her.
She is in need, has nothing, help her, don’t let her down. All these questions, imagine how she must feel and how much she must be thinking.
This is another chance, you wished for this, this is all good things.  Do right by her and keep your focus on being the best dang host mi’maw raised you to be.  Speaking of which.  Better start getting that food ready.  Ah dang it!  She’s shivering.  You didn’t prepare her any shoes!

Vic blew some dragon steam in the air for Nala’s quick amusement, and kindly invited her to go back, pointing out that the floor must be ouchies so they needed to hurry.

“Brrrrrrrrr.   It’s colder than a popsicle divorce out there.  Now now Naly-girl, can’t go to the bathroom and not wash your hands after, that ain’t proper now. Gotta play it safe with them germs and, here’s a fancy word for ya, hygiene.
Getting sick out here in the boonies can be difficult, so we gotta keep them bugs at bay”

Vic showed her to wash her hands in the foot-pump sink with the fast orange and water.
Nala was enchanted by the smell. 

Vic gifted her a yellow hand-towel to keep and dry herself with. He invited her to be at ease on the couch and she gladly complied, returning to wrapping the quilt around her shoulders and she tucked her feet into herself to fight off the frosty lingers from the outside world.
Old man Vic placed a full cup of luke-warm water in front of her, motioned to her on how to drink it and that it was ok and tasty.

Vic excused himself with Nala and turned around to the kitchen and got on his humble routine of preparing the cookware, pulling a can out the shelf, and matching alight the stove.

Nala was impressed for a moment by the light hiss and blue flames floating and waving sharply on the stove-top.
Quick to get back to the silver cup in front of her, she grabbed it with both hands but in a surprise tumble she spilt some water on the table, floor and herself. Vic pretended not to notice as she clumsily landed the cup back onto the table, splashing more water out.  Alarmed, and armed with her personal yellow hand-towel and firsthand experience in its water removing powers, she went on to rub the puddles off.

Seeing signs of success, she felt calmer in her nerves and begins testing and rationalizing what happened. She practiced picking the thin metal cup gentlier up and down on the table, fascinated that even though it was so small it was noticeably heavier than the shirt she had on, which was way much bigger.
The way it varied in noise when it hit the table; the more careless she was, the more offensive the sound to her ears.
More quiet means more careful. Being careful sounds better.

Nala more confidently took back up the cup this second time around, switching to holding it one handedly on each hand to show-off to herself that it can be done and she’s got this.  She gave it a small squeeze and the cup was starting to bend and deform under her grip, and she quickly let go not knowing what could happen if she tried squeezing it further, it felt a little delicate in her hand. She remembers Vic’s lesson from a few moments ago on what to do, to bring it to her mouth.

The water went in, her breathing inside the cup was more audible, she then felt the glug glug glug.
She relaxed and instinctually drank with paused rhythmic breathing.

The unique smell, eyes closed, lips on the edge; control; all her other senses melted with and into the flows and enjoyment of water.
She thought to herself, this is telo.  Telo washes her hands outide.  Telo washes her center inside.  Telo is good.

She stopped after a few small satisfying sips, she didn’t want to risk finishing it all at once, there was only a little left.

The flame had gone out in the kitchen and Vic had swapped out the propane canisters while Nala was on her water adventure.
Seeing an opportunity to acclimatize Nala to some nouns around him, Vic began showing and telling.

“Now Naly girl this here is a can-opener, this particular one is called Fred, you just hold it like this, apply some of this here lieverage, and then work your way on and around like so. And there!”
Vic emphasized while pointing and tapping.  Nala observed attentively Vic’s use of ilo Fred.

“We can now get the food out this can, just be careful though, these edges can get mighty ouchy if you’re careless”
Naly listened to the elder bro in front of her, his actions, how they matched with his words, trying to follow and understand, amazed at how he used Fred in his hands to do things that looked complicated and evidently dangerous…    …her mind wonder, sneaking in the sights around her, what other curious ilo things are out here in this tomo.

“Mi’maw always said, we all ‘Always gotta make the most of what we got’, every last drop. 
So we gotta make sure to scrape off every bit we can and not let anything go to waste now.”
Vic worked the wooden spoon around the can, getting as much into the pot as possible.

Sliced up an onion next to add in, he popped a raw sliver in his mouth and offered another one to Nala as an appetizer.
She gave a little nibble at the edge, from there she slowly marched her way through crunchy town until there was no more kili lili left.
She could taste bits of telo inside of it. Little odd kick to it in her mouth. Felt good. Vic noticed the positive reception and gave her another bigger sliver to enjoy.

”Moku!”

“Ha! Yeah! That’s an onion! I mean, Eh, maybe? Unless that means food? That would make more sense probably right now, sure sure!
Moku! Mooooookuuuuu is fooooooood. and Fooooooood is mooookuuuu.”
Vic balanced imaginary words in his hands while sounding out his point.
Nala reciprocated with giggles and imitation, she playfully looked at one hand and said “fooooooood” and in the other said “moooooookuuuuuu”.
They were mutually amused at the balancing scales of food and moku.

The smell of moku food filled the tomo shed; competing for Nala’s attention over Vic’s unintelligible masterclass in life-hacks and warnings in using fire, sharp things and cooking.  Closed eyes she sighes out unnoticed from her scent trip “pona kon”.

She popped the entire onion slice into her mouth at once and enthusiastically chewed away, little pieces settled everywhere, this was a biggly mistake, she caught a much stronger singe experience than she was expecting and didn’t know what was happening.
She tried to breathe it out roughly with her nose and mouth, looking silly as she did so.
Scared and worried if the taste will ever settle down or if she is doing something wrong can get worse.

“Ha! Poor little gus-gus, it’ll get better soon, it’s alright now”. Vic smiled and motioned it’s alright and rubbed his belly and fanned his mouth with his hand.
Nala felt better at his response, made her feel that this was normal if not careful with this kind of moku.
She was further calmed by the prickling on the inside of her cheeks and tongue receding.

Vic started simmering things down, turned the stove off.
“Aand here we go! 0ut the fire sizzley pot, fresh m0kuuuu, careful it’s h0t!”
He delicately presented the pot to Nala in front of her, resting it on the coffee table.
Steam steaming out.

Victor gave quick taps to the hot pot with his finger, theatrically wincing with pain on contact; “Ouch! Ouch! Hot parts means OUchies! No touch here ok?”. He then waved his hand over the steam coming from it, expressing caution with it, and a big cheek blow over it.

Nala laughed with the show he put on, but quickly went from entertained to curious to the dangerous ilo palisa in front of her.
When Vic turned around to look for a spoon she went for a quick tap on the pot, but rather than tap she touched, burned her finger, winced in pain and squeaked “OUchies!” immediately before putting her finger in her mouth.
She squints and smiles, satisfied in confirming it’s all about speed and she needs to be much faster next time to be at Vic’s level.

“Them ouchies is right! and we appreciate them now a little better don’t we? No better teacher than pain is what i’ve heard”.
They both smiled and giggled at each other. Mutual communication was happening.

“Here Naly-bear, use Fred’s s-p’ooooooon end for your moku.”
Vic presented the spoon side and then fished onto the spoon a solitary bean, following with blow expressions on the steam over it, and carefully handed it to Nala’s receiving hand. “There you go, now you try”.

Bringing the spoon to her face, Nala blew repeatedly over it, to which Vic corrected her with hand signals and words to blow lower and slower onto the bean itself, then gave her an encouraging smile, wink and thumbs up.  Nala laughed at the expression combo, almost dropping her bite, but recovered somewhat gracefully and went on to explore her first hot bean. She scrunched her shoulders and face in appreciation of the squish-smwoosh and light burning sensation to her tongue and the roof of her mouth, getting a little nervous as the bean got hotter to the point of borderline pain.
The taste was suwi and she enjoyed it, but there was a nuanced bitter trace she was not fond of that wasn’t enough to ruin it.
She eagerly tried for another bite, investigating a piece that looked a little different from the one she just had. She picked it up individually and blew on it until there was less steam, then put in her mouth but found the taste overwhelming and bitter. As quickly and as gently as she could, and ashamed, spit it into her hand. She desperately tried to wash the taste out by putting the plate back down and getting some water, but as she poured water in her mouth she ended up choking on it, coughing, getting scared.
Vic reacted by gently moving to her and gave her small pats on her back, “it’s alright, it’s alright.
There there”

Nala appreciated this and felt cared for as she recovered her breath. She did not know what to do next, it didn’t feel right having this bad tasting food bit in her hand, this was the first wrong thing Vic had given her and she didn’t know how to give it back.  She didn’t want to give it back to him.  If she didn’t like it, he probably wouldn’t like it neither.  But if he doesn’t like it, why would he give it to her.

Vic offered his hand to take the spit-bit from her and with embarrassment on her face she nodded and allowed it.
He then comforted her, did a quick clean up near her, and pointed as a suggestion that she use her hand-towel to wipe off while he took her water cup.
Vic threw the chewed up piece out the shed window by the sink. He washed his hands and refilled Nala’s cup of water.
Having Learned where the ike taste came from, she avoided those bits and went back to the beans, contemplating to herself how much better this moku would’ve been without them.

She tried the familiar looking onion pieces next, this time it is seli, playing with the texture getting crushed between her front teeth, amazed that the feel and flavor are not exactly the same but still enjoyable in it’s own way. She continues to eat with gusto, experimenting with the percentages of bean vs onion ratio in her spoon, increasing in size and shovel speeds proportionally to the decrease in heat and pleasure of taste.
Nala finds herself getting taken away in feelings of delight; of being aware, and of being aware of being aware, and mixing stuff up.
Nala felt, cozy, protected, and overtly comforted with a mouth full of hot moku and a new cup of telo.
Bite after bite and swish swish was more bliss.
Nala joyfully stuffed her face.

Old man Vic gave her her space to take it all in, both of them in continued awe and wonder of their new realities.

“mmmmmmmm Pona moku! Pona moku!”.
Nala smiles and claps in playful appreciation.

“Alright alright, I see what you’re sayin’, you like it so pona must mean tasty. What about that there pork you skipped?” Vic points closely at the leftovers, “wha’dya think about those pieces?”
“Ike moku ike moku” she exclaimed with disagreement face and hands ex’ing. “porkyuskipt ike moku”
“Roger that roger that, yeah, I kinda gathered the porkyslipt didn’t sit so well with you.
Ok, so Poooonaaaa is taaaaastyyyy and ikeeeee is yuuuuuucky.”

Nala points at the pork she left over and declared “Juki!” and shook her head with disagreeable toad face.
“Ah! Yes, that is yucky, maybe lets point at stuff and follow along”, Vic points to another can, “can you say fooooood?”

“Fffoooooood” 😃
“That’s right! Very good! now can you say taaaaaaasty?” vic smiled and rubbed his jolly belly making yum yum noises.

“Fffoooooood!” 😃
“No, can you say –“

“-Moku? Fffooooooood?” 😁

“Oh dear! Yes yes, of course, should’a known that lil’ bit wasn’t going to fill that tank up. Lets get ya a heartier plate now shall we?”
Vic took Fred and the pot back to the kitchen space, picked out the pork, set em to the side and then cooking silently this time to allow Nala some peace and zen…

Gonna have to pull my gabbing back as she learns. Don’t be overwhelming.
After all, she’s a person now, can’t get away with talking her ears off like you did before ya geezer.

He chopped up his last onion and threw it in the pot with the beans, stirring and picking out any pork bits he could find while cooking.
If she doesn’t like the pork taste, maybe some cilantro will offset a bit. 
ah. right on.  We haves a potat’er here, lets add that up right quick. she’ll enjoy that one for sure.  

Nala remained in the couch, looking at her hands, tracing her fingers over with her other fingers, measuring amount of fingers and comparing her hands to Vic’s hands, and reasons that if Vic shares the same fingers as her she also can do what Vic was doing, and began imagining herself cooking and made believe with her hands she had a pot over a flame, and it was dangerous and seli, and in her mind she was smooth with her clanging and scraping and was stirring the pona moku inside it with the long wood spoooooooon ilo.

“Aaaaaaaaaand out the fire! sizzley sizzle poppety pop, fresh fooo000eehhemmooooku pona and hot! Alrighty then, there ya go ol’ girl… …I mean, Nala.”
Nala greedily looked at the pot of delicious steamy beans and onions, bubbling, hot, and a slightly more attractive smell.
 She then saw Vic’s soft and weathered face sitting across from her.

Nala understands he is a jan like her, everything she feels he must also, she is here and has no idea what is going on, but he makes her feel like she is welcome there. He had eaten a little peace before, while she had eaten bigger size mokus.  He has moku here because it is his tomo place, and he likes what is here. She was bothered by the thought that Vic was not able to enjoy because she was enjoying, that he was not eating because she was eating, maybe they could both eat together.  She imagined if they both blew on the big steam together, the food would get colder faster, and they could eat more and enjoy more faster, and that would be a good thing for everyone.  She didn’t know how to express this to him.

Nala realized that this was a problem to not be able to understand his gibberish, she needed to prioritize the link between the noises he makes and its cause and effect on reality.  She improvised, like he would do, with her hands and gestures.

Careful not to burn herself, she gently pushed the pot towards Vic using the hand-towel to shield her fingers, expressing with her open palms and body to him that he should have some and eat. Nala wore worry on her face as she looked at him.

“No no, its fine, eat up Nala, enjoy please. please, bon appetite dear.”
Vic smiled, inflated his cheeks and patted his gut as if it was larger that it really was.
Nala eased into a smile and nodded her head and brought the pot back to herself, blowing the thick steam off desperately like you do a trick candle.

As much as she wanted and tried to hurry up and eat, the blowing efforts were not as effective as she had hoped.
Nala slowed her role as she ate, fascinated by this extra nuance and surprise ingredient that wasn’t there before.  The moku cans must be different.

Hope the world doesn’t end anytime soon. So happy my friend is alive and ok, she seems comfortable and really likes to eat. I wonder how everyone else is dealing with everything in town. And Dorothy. Can’t leave Naly girl alone for now, it’s scary out there. this space is not setup for two people. we should be good on cans for a lil’ while. No telling what’s going to happen after today. She doesn’t have a home. Is this spot still safe? It’s all we have though, have to be ready for anything. Focus. Get ready to help Nala. Pass on what you can about surviving this world she is now in. We are now in. The world isn’t the same anymore.

“Yaaaawn”, Nala bellowed sweepy like and hovered over the empty pot with a drowsy glaze; lips-smacking, tongue fishing for pieces inside her mouth, itis on her brain.

“Feeling sleepy now eh? Ready for bed, Like this?” Vic acted out closing his eyes with sideways prayer hands”

“a! lape pona”

“That’s right! Laaape pona, Yaaaaaaaawn. I am feeling tuckered out as well you know. Wait, did you say sleep is tasty?”

Nala sleepily smiled eyes dozing out half-shut, wrapped the quilt around her like a big fat caterpillar and rolled herself into the couch, pillow nice and comfty, and drifted-off.

Well that was easy. She really tuckered out there. Guess I should be glad she didn’t ask for a toothbrush, completely forgot to find her one earlier. I should have a new one in the bug-out bag… …dental hygiene is very important…

Vic hears Nala kick her snoring back up and feels like crying in eternal gratitude.

Old man Vic went into his stash drawer and stepped out into the glacial air outside, not knowing in what direction to put his thousand-yard stare into, eyes burnt up from the air-chill and exhaustion. He exhaled clouds of magic dragon steam. close eyes.
Vic didn’t know how long he had been standing out there when he opened his eyes back up. He was returning from a blank drift. He took a deep breath of the freezing air to give him a small energy bolt. He went back inside and ate the cold leftover pork pieces from earlier and was able to scrape up a few spoons of bean residue Nala missed out on.

He gave the kitchen, pot and Fred an unenthusiastic clean and fixed himself a makeshift bed on the floor out of a few dirty clothes and two sheets.

She’s alive. I can help her. Everything is going to be okay, the world is spinning on…
Best. Dang. Birthday. ever

Vic turned 78