Familiar

The cool, ocean waters lapped gently at her feet as Varia walked along the beach. Every so often, she would see a shell or a piece of driftwood that interested her, and she would throw it in her bag. As the sun set, it stole away her warmth. Unfortunately at this time of year it wasn’t safe to swim after sunset, though Varia yearned to be beneath the waves. She settled for a chair placed away from the tide. Varia leaned back, closing her eyes. The music of the ocean made her drowsy.

”Tttrrrrooot.”

“Mm?” Varia opened an eye.

”Trrrrroot.” The creature trilled. It was sitting on its bottom, just feet away from Varia’s legs. It cocked its furry head. “Trrrooooot?”

“What’s a evoo doing out here?” Varia asked. The evoo didn’t answer. Instead, it came up to Varia and tried butting its head against her hand. Varia gave it a few cautious pats.

”Trrrooooooooot.” It purred happily.

”Good boy... or girl.” Varia said uncertainly.

The evoo hopped up onto Varia’s lap and she squeaked. It stopped to analyze her with its four, amber eyes. Then it curled up in her lap and began cleaning its paws.

”Nnnn.” Varia tried nudging the evoo off her lap. “Okay... You’ve had your fun. Please go now.”

The evoo looked at her, but didn’t budge. “Trrooot?”

”Go away. Please.”

”Trrrroooot. Trrooooot.”

Varia sighed. “I need to go inside.” She said, rapidly losing her patience. “I don’t have fur to keep me warm like you do.”

”Trroot.” The evoo jumped off her lap.

”Um, thank you.” Varia moved the chair back onto the rear porch, then hurried inside. As she was closing the sliding door, she saw a flash of black dart between her legs. “No, no, no. Shoo. Get out of here! Wild animals don’t live in the house.” She said. Varia panicked, in a house this size, a creature could get lost in here for months. Maybe years. She chased it through the kitchen and into the living room, hoping to corner it in one of the bedrooms. But the evoo leapt up onto the fireplace, then rocketed itself onto the chandelier, high above her head.

”Trroooot.” It said contentedly. The evoo settled down as if to take a nap.

Varia went to find something to get it down with. She tried poking at it with a mop or broom handle, but none of them were long enough. Then she tried throwing accent pillows at it. The evoo didn't even raise its head. Varia sat a bowl of mushrooms on the table, hoping to lure it down. There was nothing to do but sit on the couch and wait.

***

Varia yawned and rolled onto her side. But she remembered a second too late that she wasn’t in her king sized bed, she was on the living room couch. “Oof!” She exclaimed as she landed on the floor. Without getting up, she could already see the evoo was no longer in her chandelier. Varia got to her feet, then checked the mushroom bowl. Empty. Her worst nightmare was coming true. There was a wild animal loose in her home. She would have to search every single room, one by one. All the bedrooms, the studies, the kitchens, the bathrooms, the game room, the bonus space, everything.

But first, coffee. Varia shuffled into the kitchen and started the pot. While she waited, she absentmindedly chewed on a granola bar.

”Troooot?”

”Ahh! You.” Varia slammed the granola bar down on the counter. The evoo seemed unaffected. Varia walked slowly to the back door and slid it open. “Go on. Go back to your friends.” She said through gritted teeth.

”Trrooot.”

Varia rounded the island trying to get behind the evoo so it would run forward and out of her house. Instead, the evoo took off down the hallway. Varia chased after it, but quickly lost it. “Helllloooo? Little evoo, where are you? You furry bastard.” After she searched a room, she made sure to firmly shut the door. She rounded the corner and entered one of the large studies. There were several books off the shelves and the lamp on the desk was on. Varia knew she hadn’t been in this room for a few years, yet the books on the floor were devoid of dust. Suddenly, Varia remembered her coffee and the open door. She ran back to shut it before any more critters got inside.

“Tttrrrroooooot.”

Varia spun around and found the evoo enjoying the rest of her granola. “Damn it.”

The evoo dropped to the floor, then rubbed its body against her legs. “Trrrrrrooooooot.” It purred.

“Ugh.” Varia unlatched the door and tried nudging the evoo out. It looked up at her, as if it knew exactly what she was trying to do, but simply didn’t care.

Its tall, fluffy ears twitched slightly. “Troot?”

“Don’t look at me like that. I don’t want you to stay here. I like liv- I like... living alone.” Varia swore the evoo rolled its eyes. She watched it watching her, watching it. She finally got it. “You know, evoos are supposed to be stupid creatures.” She said. “They’re known to walk into glass doors and repeatedly try to eat things that aren’t food. They also don’t live anywhere near here.”

”Trrooooot?”

”I’m just saying, I would have picked another creature.”

The evoo studied her for a moment, then nodded once. The creature strutted out onto the back porch, then let Varia close the door. Varia was sure it winked before disappearing into the early morning mist.