An idea suddenly hit Anne. She wasn't sure if it would work. . But it WOULD give her some idea as to how the stone interpreted wishes, without any real danger to herself and others. And it just might keep Jonni around a bit longer too.
After a moment's thought, Anne picked up the phone to make a call.
Two Weeks Later
I growled a bit in inpatients as I paced around my enclose. My home. The thought came unbidden and unwanted. This was NOT my home. Even if it did feel more and more like it as time went by
I growled and continued my pacing in annoyance. WHAT is going on here?!? I wondered. It had been over a week since the zoo took my kittens away I shuddered a bit at the memory. Despite never WANTING the damn things in the first place, watching the zoo keepers take them away had been.. Unpleasant. They WERE my kittens after all, wanted or no, and watching them leave
I shook my head angrily, trying to get rid of the stirrings of maternal sadness I was feeling. This was ridiculous! I am NOT a leopard! I'm a human1 a MALE human!
And in any case, I didn't have the kittens anymore. So I shouldn't be considered a "mother" anymore, right? So why hadn't I changed back yet?!?
I sighed and finally stretched out on a log neat the edge of the enclosure, staring up at the people staring down at me. I seemed to be quite an attraction. Too bad I can't talk. I bet I'd REALLY bring the crows in then. I thought sarcastically. Not being able to talk was a major pain. I couldn't even communicate with Karyn! Though at least she was still trying to help me out
I sighed again and tried not to get depressed. I'd give the wish one more week to wear off, an then. . Then what? What COULD I do? Absolutely nothing. As far as the rest of the world was concerned, I was just a big spotted feline.
I was just about to try to take a nap, when my ears perked up at the sound of someone speaking up above. A father was holding little boy up so he could see the picture on the plaque describing the enclose. My sensitive hearing could make out what he was saying, and it made my blood run cold.
"See here Tom? It says "This enclose contains a mommy leopard named Jonni. Jonni has given birth to one litter so far of "
I tuned the rest out and stared up above. Could THAT be why I hadn't changed back? Because that plaque said I was a Mommy? What if that's how the wish worked?!? If everyone who passed by thought of me as a "mommy" would I still be considered one as far as the wish was concerned?? Then as long as that plaque was up there describing me like that, the wish would NEVER wear off!! What was I going to do?!?
