For previous editions, go here.

The moment the cat touched her forehead to Birdie’s, the world went black.

A bear, illuminated against the stars, his paw swiping the black from the sky.

Yellow eyes, cat eyes, staring, always staring.

A young woman, her face shrieking in laughter.

Children beaming, playing nearly naked in the hot summer sun.

A young man shivering under a fur, a young wolf in his arms.

Joy.  Sorrow.  Pain.  Pleasure.

The animals–cats and dogs, dolphins and elephants, land and sea, air and desert.  All swirling around her, all demanding.  Their spirits so strong, their determination great.

And then there was cold, such cold.  And fear, and sorrow.

Mr. Pemberley’s eyes, so full of pain and confusion, so young.  Percy’s glasses, shining over her.  Her mother, her face puckered, her mouth open in shock.

And then it all went black again.

Birdie opened her eyes and closed them again.  “What are you doing here?”

“Well, we were concerned.”  Detective Michaels shoved his hand in his coat pockets, looking as uncomfortable as she felt.  “You’ve been asleep for quite awhile.”

“How long?”

“Days,” Mr. O’Neil said.  Birdie opened her eyes to see him waving across the room, his hands stuffed with an Italian sandwich.  “The Zoobilaiton is tomorrow!”

“Tommorow!”  Birdie sat up and winced, her head was swimming.  “It can’t be tomorrow!  I’m not ready!”

A long pale face peered around her doorway and melted in relief.  “Oh good, she’s awake.”  Percy scurried into the room, wringing his hands.  “Your mom will be up in a minute.  She’s making some sort of lentil curry for you.”  He wrinkled his nose.  “She thinks the carob cookies she made you were bad and hurt your chakra, or something.”  His long fingers twisted into knots.  “I don’t know what any of that means.”

“How have I been asleep for days?” Birdie demanded.  “And where’s my pizza?  I just ordered a pizza and laid down for a moment…”  She pressed a hand to her forehead and it all came rushing back to her.  The cat.  The exchange of the spirit.  Leaping up, she hurried over to the mirror, patting her hair and face.  Aside from being pale and having terrible bed head, she looked the same.  Running her hands over her shirt, she felt the same.

Clearing his throat, Detective Michaels raised an eyebrow.  “Birdie, are you all right?”

“Peachy.”  Birdie rubbed her face.  “So how did you find me?”

“I got worried when I called you back and you never answered.”  Detective Micheals shoved his hands deeper into his pockets.  “When I came by, the pizza guy had came and gone, leaving the pizza at your doorstep with a note.  The door was open, so I just came inside…”

“He said you looked dead,” Percy added helpfully.  “Staring at the cieling with a black cat passed out on your chest.”

“Thanks, Percy,” Detective Michaels muttered.

“Frankie has been scared for days,” Mr. O’Neil informed her, shoving another huge bite of sandwich into his mouth.  “She’ll be so happy when I tell her you’re awake.”  He shook his head.  “Birdie, what’s going on?  We all know you found something.”

Birdie grinned.  “Oh, I did.  I found something all right.”  She stretched, running her fingers through her greasy hair.  “And I’ll tell you all about it, right after I take a shower and get some pizza, some real pizza, not my mom’s stuff.”  She wrinkled her nose.  “And then, Percy, you and I have to practice our act.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Percy’s fingertips fluttered together.  “I mean, you’ve been ill…”

“I haven’t been ill.”  Birdie shook her head.  “Look, I can’t explain it.  Just know that more than ever, I want to stop Pemberely from collecting those animals and save the Zarina elephant.”  Her eyes gleamed.  “And I know just how to do it.”

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!  We have a new recipe tomorrow and a new Butterfly Dress Friday!  Stay tuned!

More