A Visit to the Vet


Meyaira fitted Bazic’s light blue diamante cat harness and leash onto him then beckoned to Wisp to follow her out the front door. The small sheep creature clip clopped after her, his bell jingling with each step of his tiny hooves. She locked the door behind her and started walking through the neighborhood in Barton Town, towards the vet clinic owned by her friend. It was late afternoon, and Raiyne had closed to the rest of the public for the day, so she knew she didn’t have to worry about interrupting his work. Bazic trotted obediently on his leash, sometimes frisking this way or that to look at and sniff things but mostly walking alongside her.

Fifteen minutes later, she pressed the doorbell to the vet’s house. Raiyne appeared shortly after and swung open the door, stepping aside to let them pass “Come in, come in. I’ve got everything ready in the back for you, just go on through” he said in a welcoming manner. His eyes trailed the small BaaBaa trotting behind her with keen interest.

“Okay” she nodded and walked down the hallway to the vet office in the back, taking her two pets to the examination room. She picked up the Lypthet and placed him on the cold metal table. Bazic wandered around on it and sniffed at the air, his feelers waving. She petted him and smiled “Good boy. Don’t try to run away now. It’s just a quick check-up” she soothed.

Raiyne stepped into the room and washed his hands, putting gloves on and grabbing his equipment. He walked to the table and smiled, greeting the Lypthet “Hey Bazic. How’s it going lately? Been getting up to mischief?” The Lypthet returned a light chirr and rubbed on him. He chuckled softly, performing his routine examination of the furred creature. He checked Bazic’s ears, eyes, teeth and gums, his breathing, heart beats and limbs, and other things. Bazic sat mostly still and let him get on with it. He was used to this by now and knew what to expect. If he stayed still it didn’t take as long.

Meyaira decided to talk while the exam was being performed “So, how is the sun lion going? Is she happy here? How are her cubs?” she asked curiously, mentioning the other Lypthera that was full grown. Her tail swished idly.

Raiyne answered a bit absentmindedly, busy concentrating on what he was doing “She’s doing well and all the cubs are fine. They’re healthy and growing fast. All of them are glowing like their mother. You can go and visit them once I’m finished here. I’m sure they’d like to see you”. He finished the examination and straightened up “I’m giving Bazic a clean bill of health. I recommend putting some anti-flea, worm tick medicine on him, but apart from that just keep doing what you’re doing” He removed his gloves and went to wash his hands as the cat girl lifted the animal that was the size of a large cat down off the table.

“Okay, thanks” Meyaira knelt and petted Bazic, praising him for his good behaviour and producing a small treat from her hand bag. He took it and settled down to chew on it.

Dr Raiyne came back over and waited by the table “Can you lift the other pet onto the table for me? I’m curious to take a look at him”

She nodded. “Come here, Wisp” she cooed. Meyaira petted the sheep animal gently on the muzzle and ears before picking him up. It felt like she had an armful of an airy cloud; Wisp was light as a feather. Wisp didn’t struggle or try to get away. He stood on the table looking curious and a little bored.

Raiyne started to examine him the same way he had with Bazic. “Oh, interesting. This wool is finer than any sheep wool I’ve seen, even merino wool” he commented. “And it's a very pretty colour. By the way, I was trying to tell you on the phone earlier, I studied Bazic’s brain scans and it does appear to be the case that his brain is developing like a child’s. When he’s full grown, he should be able to talk like us, and he’ll have human level intelligence. But not until he’s fully mature” he said.

Meyaira grinned happily “That’s great news. Wow. Do you think I can teach him to talk yet?”

He shook his head, checking Wisp’s ears. “No, not until he’s at least a teenager. His brain will be like that of an intelligent, well trained pet until then”

He kept looking over the BaaBaa, performing all the routine checks before he was satisfied. “Well, it looks like this little fellow is in good health. He has poor eyesight but his senses of hearing and smell make up for it. Also, the little fabric bits on his head appear to be attached as a part of him so don’t try cutting them off or anything. I recommend purchasing a bristle brush and grooming him once a day to prevent mats and things getting caught in his coat. His wool is very fine. It’s beautiful. Also, I think he’s called a BaaBaa” he scowled and looked away “Kind of ridiculous but I suppose it makes sense. After all it does resemble a sheep”

Mey laughed, picking up her armful of cotton candy pet and nuzzling him happily. His little bell collar jingled. “Oh, that’s adorable! How cute. So you’re a BaaBaa” she smiled, placing him back on the ground. She brought out a zip lock bag of sheep pellets and sprinkled them on the floor for Wisp to eat as a reward for good behaviour. Wisp quietly gobbled them up.

Mey turned her attention back to Raiyne. “Okay, I’ll get a brush today. And should I get him anything else?”

Raiyne nodded “I can give you some shampoo made for sheep especially. It’s probably better for him than the cat shampoo that you use for Bazic. And I’ll give you a flea, tick, wormer treatment made for ungulates”

He paused, going to his desk and picking up a sheet of paper. He walked over and handed it to her “Here. This is the information for the farm where you can find more of these BaaBaa’s. I printed out the map with directions so you can go and check it out if you want”

She took the paper and looked at it “Oh, thanks a lot. I think I will. I see they have all different types of BaaBaa’s from the pictures. Gosh!” she folded the paper and put it in her bag. “All right, I’ll just pay for the check-ups and get the brush and other stuff you mentioned. And then can we visit the Lypthera?” she bounced on her feet a little.

He nodded and laughed. “I also want to show you that field I set aside. I thought it would be a good place for you to keep your BaaBaa’s, or any larger pets that won’t eat the smaller ones”.

“Okay, thanks” she replied, going to the front counter to pay for everything.

A short while later, Raiyne led her to the fenced in paddocks that resided at the back of the clinic and Mey put her bags down and stepped through the gate into one of the larger paddocks. She looked around, searching for the full grown catlike creature that she had met one other time.

Raiyne led her further into the paddock, and she soon saw the mother Lypthera lying under a shady tree, with her four cubs playing and play fighting in the grass around her. This animal was covered in soft fur the same as Bazic, but there were quite a few differences. The fur was bright gold and gave off a glowing aura. The wings had thick creamy and white feathers on them. The tail had a tuft on the end the same cream colour as the wings. The animal had a longer neck than a feline and long whippy feelers either side of her heart shaped nose. She looked graceful and elegant. Raiyne had been calling her a ‘sun lion’ Lypthera, and Mey thought it suited her perfectly.

She walked up to her calmly and knelt down. The Lypthera, who was the size of a medium sized car, leaned down to lick Meyaira’s open palm in greeting, trailing her vibrissae over her. She spoke only ancient Egyptian but Raiyne and Mey had been trying to teach her English words.

“Hello” the Lypthera spoke in a heavily accented voice.

Meyaira giggled. “Hello!” she smiled. “You look lovely today. Are you bored?”

The Lypthera tilted her head slightly, her ears perked, looking as though she was concentrating on the girl’s words. She finally shook her head “No”

The cat girl petted her “That’s good. I guess your kittens, I mean Lypthets, keep you entertained and busy, huh? It must be hard to keep up with four babies” her tail swayed pleasantly as she talked to her.

Bazic ran up and started to play with the Lypthets, which is what the littler versions of these creatures were called.

Wisp on the other hand, hung back, with a small series of chimes. He was nervous around the big catlike creature and didn’t want to get too close. Eventually he sidled up next to Meyaira and pressed himself close to her side. He knew he was safe with his owner.

Raiyne was walking around the paddock, inspecting it for weeds and thistles, inspecting the fence and security cameras, checking the water troughs and inspecting the trees, climbing platforms, dens and other areas. He came back after fifteen minutes or so and looked at Meyaira. She was lying curled up on the sun lion with four little Lypthets snuggled up close to her, receiving pats and attention. Bazic was on her lap, having taken the prime spot for himself. Wisp was standing on her head, looking a bit nervous. All around, the group emanated with purrs.

Raiyne cleared his throat to get her attention “Ahem! Are you ready to come and look at the BaaBaa field or would you be happy to leave him in here?”

Meyaira looked up from the purring pile of Lyptheras “Oh. Sorry. I forgot! Yes, I would still like to see it if you have time to show me around” she blushed “Sorry. We were having fun”

He laughed “I can see that. You can always come back here and play with them more”

“Go” The large Lypthera nudged her and the cat girl got to her feet, picking up Bazic in her arms because he had gone floppy and boneless.

She looked at the mother and the Lypthera smiled and squeezed her eyes slowly at her, before winking just one eye and making a shooing motion with her paw. She said something in Egyptian again that sounded friendly.

Mey went to look at the BaaBaa paddock and she was not disappointed. It had lots of sweet grass, flowers, a small lake, a stream and plenty of trees for shelter and shade. She took Bazic for a walk all around it, Wisp riding on her head and the Lypthet trotting about on his cat leash. Eventually she picked Wisp from off her head and placed him down in the bright green meadow. “What do you think, Wisp? Would you like it here? I’ll visit you every day”

The BaaBaa looked around a bit before running up and rubbing against her leg. He let out a few happy baas and chiming sounds.

“I’ll take that as a yes” she giggled, bending over to pet him. She looked up at Raiyne “You know, I think this will be really nice for him to live in, better than being stuck inside my house or my small back yard. But I think it would be too lonely for one BaaBaa all by himself. He needs friends” she said.

“That’s what I thought you were going to say!” Raiyne grinned “I knew you’d want to fill this place with as many cute BaaBaas as possible. Are you going to visit the farm tomorrow since you’re not working?”

She laughed “You know me too well! Yeah, I’m going to get lots of BaaBaas!”


User Image