Chapter 12 - Finding a place

Over the next couple of days, Kitty started traveling with Dane as he did the chores around the farm. Each morning started out the same, with him fixing them both a yummy warm meal, then she did her business outside, while he got his boots and coat on. It wasn't really that cold outside, but after laying by the fire for so long, she could kind of understand the desire for a coat.

Sitting on his shoulder, she went with him while he fed all the animals that he had on the farm. He explained to her why he had each animal, which was very fascinating to her.

"These are cows, of a breed that provides me with meat. Every year they give me calves, or babies, that after a year of growing, I butcher for meat. These two here, are about ready to butcher."

She looked at the huge beasts, no longer afraid of them, as she once had been. They ignored her as they fought each other for the cubes of feed he threw them.

"Do they need the cubes?" she asked, wondering why he only gave them such a small amount.

"Not really. I give them a handful per cow every morning to ensure they come up to the fence so I can see them, and make sure they are all still healthy, and to train them to come when I call, so that when it's time to catch them to butcher, I don't have to go through a lot of effort."

He was brilliant. She could see how much easier it was checking them over with them already looking for him. These things weren't that smart at all. While they were checking the cows, the big white dog showed up. It seemed confused as to why she was on Dane's shoulder.

"This guy here, is Shep. He's the one who patrol's the farm and makes sure the pesky critters who want to cause problems stay away."

She watched as Dane fed him a couple of treats as well.

"Why do you give him treats? Is it to train him to look for you as well? To make sure he's healthy?"

"Yep. It's a lot easier to train dogs, they're a lot smarter than cows."

"Can I give him a treat?" she asked.

"Well, uh, I guess?" He didn't sound very sure about his answer, but he took her in his hand, and handed her a dog treat. Shep was watching the whole time.

"Here you go, Shep. No more chasing me, okay?"

She held out the treat, and Shep sniffed at it, looking at her and at Dane several times, before he very gingerly took it from her.

"Good boy!" exclaimed Dane, scratching him on top of his head.

When Shep sniffed her again, she giggled and scratched him on the top of the head, stretching over his face to reach. He froze as she ruffled the fur, unable to actually reach well enough to scratch.

"Good boy!" she imitated Dane, and Shep backed away, whining in confusion.

Dane chuckled. "Now, how about that. He doesn't know what to make of you. Normally he chases the cats around, and you look a lot like a cat. I wonder how long it will take him to figure out you're different?"

"Probably not long. I can talk, and those furballs cannot."

"Well, that's true, I suppose."

He took her over to the barn where he had the goats, and introduced her to them as well. They were mostly interested in the feed he brought them, ignoring her for the most part. He explained that he got milk from them, after they had their babies.

"But don't the babies need the milk?" she asked confused.

"They need some of it, but not all of it. These goats produce far more milk than they need, and that's why I have them. Besides, I try to sell the babies to other people who want them, and get some money that way."

"What's money?"

"It's a way for me to get things. If I need a new pair of boots, because these are worn out, I would have to go to someone who has some for trade. But I may not have anything they want. That's where money comes into play. It's like leaves that we made. I give someone who wants a baby goat, a goat, and they give me money. Then I can take the money to the guy who has boots, and give him money for the boots."

She thought about it for a while, then nodded. It kind of made sense. She could ask about it some more later.

He introduced her to the cats, who were mostly unimpressed, and then to the chickens. He explained how he took their eggs and either ate them, or put them in this machine that protected them and allowed them to hatch.

"Why don't you just let the chickens hatch the eggs?"

"They might not do a good job, and not protect some of them. This way I know exactly when they will all hatch, so the chicks are all the same age."

"What do you do with the chicks?"

"I grow them up until they're the right age, a couple months or so, then I butcher them for meat."

"So, everything here has a purpose?"

"Yes."

"How do I fit in? If I live here, what would I do?"

"Well," he scratched his beard, as he thought about that. "Someone obviously wanted you around, because otherwise, the scientists wouldn't have gone to so much trouble making your mom. They also wouldn't have tried so hard to get her back after she escaped."

"You know about that?" Kitty looked at him all excited. She hadn't been sure how to tell him all the things her mother had told her. She was afraid he wouldn't want her around.

"It's kind of hard to miss it, as they've been tramping all through my land trying to find her. They had to have a special permit from the government to trespass like that, and that permit told me why they were there. And before you ask, a permit is just permission from someone to do something that someone else may not like."

"Do you think they'll come back for me?" she asked softly. She didn't want to leave this place. Dane and Kiterina were so nice, almost like a family.

"They found your mom and sisters, so probably not. They probably don't even know you exist."

"Then it's okay for me to stay here?"

"I would love to have you stay."