Miou's Rebirth.

Miou used to be someone else, someone who cared more than he should’ve. He was a simple boy, locked away somewhere secret. A wall behind the garden, a home built for him and him alone. There were whispers, distant words from his family, letting him know the world was dangerous. Sheltered was far too appropriate of a word to describe him.

He had his space, his freedom to roam, but it was limited, and protected fiercely. The guard dogs stood outside his gate, keeping everyone out- and keeping him in. He used to have another name, another story. He gave it all up, just to cling to a concept he’d grown to love. 

One day, something new tumbled into his secret garden- something small, helpless, and absolutely alone. A kitten, tripping its way around the perimeter. The dogs bristled, and snarled at the poor thing, until the boy arose from his slumber, and spotted the little thing in his sheltered world. The moment he saw it, he knew that it was the most important thing he’d ever meet. He scooped the cat into his arms, and shushed the dogs, taking the kitten into his manufactured perfect world. It was a secret, but, so was he. They were kindred souls, in that regard.

The kitten grew quickly, as did the boy. Side by side- they were inseparable. Nothing could’ve ever mattered more than that little furball, and the boy would do anything for his only companion. As years passed, the dogs grew tired, and the boy started to wonder. Started to wander. 

It was the only time he’d ever taken a step outside the gate. He and his friend ventured past the sleeping hounds, kitty paws mirroring the tread of his soles. The world was large and new, and they cautiously explored the territory outside their walls.

The kitten ran ahead, far more confident than the boy, and he trailed after it as quickly as he could. They couldn’t be separated, he had to keep up! Without his friend, he had no connection to the foreign world that they’d found themselves in. They learned what their home looked like to the outside- four large walls, with a secret hidden within. The boy found it funny, how it always felt like the secret was on the outside, not in.

The cat was curious, and travelled further, only to be scooped into the boy’s arms, and carried home. He promised his friend that they’d go further next time- but after all, it was only his first adventure outside, and he was nervous to stray too far. There was nothing keeping him safe out here, no dogs, no distant sounds of family in a world far less protected. He was almost entirely alone, aside from his friend. They were alone, even in freedom, and the boy didn’t like that feeling. 

Safe back in their secluded world, the boy spent his day in sketchbooks, drawing his new experiences. He spent his night dreaming, tasting the open air. The new world would be so much fun, once he got the hang of being free.

The next morning, he woke, and his friend was missing. The kitten was nowhere to be seen, the guard dogs were asleep, and the gate was open. The boy panicked, and ran into the wide open world, desperately calling for his companion to return to him. A distant meow caught his attention, and he rushed towards it.

He found his little kitty friend wrapped up with some kind of creature- something he’d never seen, but he knew in an instant that it was dangerous. The boy reached forward, and so did the creature. It all happened so fast- his friend was in his arms, and the creature struck. It sunk sharp fangs into his arm, and the boy cried out in pain.

He shook it off, and, clutching his thankfully unharmed cat to his chest, rushed home. The kitten was safe, but the boy didn’t know what to do. He’d never met a creature so hostile, and he had no idea what to do about being bitten by it! He did his best to wrap and clean the wound, but it was too late.

He fell asleep with his kitten curled on his chest, and didn’t wake up.

The world was silent, entirely, and the boy opened his eyes- but could only see the pitch of night. A voice rang out, then another. Two spoke to him in tandem, and they praised his dedication to his friend- even in his death, he had worried, and kept that kitten close. 

The voices promised that the kitten would be okay- and then they asked him something strange.

“Would you like to go back?”

The answer was obvious, he didn’t even have to say it, the voices knew. From the blackness, two forms approached- one of a cat like his darling friend, and the other in a build like the guards that had always kept him safe. The cat stepped right up to him, and told him that his new life wouldn’t be the same, he would be someone new. 

The boy asked if he would see his friend again, and the two beings exchanged a sweet look, before nodding to him. That made up his mind- he’d do anything to get back to make sure that the horrible creature that killed him never hurt his friend. 

A spark ignited in his chest, and something appeared before him, it was white, circular, and slowly took form- what was a wisp became a cloud, and then shifted again, to what was unmistakably a kitten. It mewed at him, before bounding back into his chest.

The two beings smiled again, complimented him on his soul, and he was confused. A soul…? It wasn’t a familiar term, and they explained in tandem that it was what made him… him! The two beings explained that they had also met their ends, and he watched as a floating black orb with wings flew between the two beings, and pressed itself against the chest of one that was holding a pink soul within a strange window. These were souls, they were everything that a person may have been, along with their halos. 

They asked him once again- was he sure he wanted to come back different? The boy answered instantly, yes.

Immediately, his eyes closed, and when he opened them again he was home, with his kitten curled into his side. There was something different this time, everything seemed so much bigger. He carefully pulled himself from bed, and walked to his mirror. What he saw was certainly a surprise!

A sweet kitty face was looking back at him, though his nose scrunched in distaste seeing the snakebite prevalent right in the middle of his face. He had definitely changed, but it wasn’t something bad! In fact, he was quite excited for this new form- and quickly hopped back over to wake his friend.

For the first time, his friend meowed, and the boy understood perfectly. A sleepy good morning, and then a confused question why he looked different! It was difficult to explain, but the boy tried his best. He and his friend were both so excited to know that they had each other, that they didn’t focus on the negatives. It didn’t matter that the boy had died, it just mattered that he came back- even if he was a kitty now!

It only took a bit to decide a new name, after all, his dear kitten had always called him the same thing- Miou! The kitten was embarrassed at first, after all, he was only calling the boy his name! It wasn’t his fault that the boy didn’t understand him. But he knew that he wanted a new name, to have a new life, and considering his kitten was so important, it was only natural to pick something that Miou had always felt was a name.

The morning was eventful, but they knew it was the start of a new, happy life!