Passing Words: Mikayla Raines

There was an addition to the enclosure in the morning, which surprised him. It sat in the corner, flicking its tail (warning or delight), and watched him carefully. He made a couple of sounds (the one or two he'd mastered) and the little one padded in a ways delicately and sat down again. There was something in that tiny, sharp face; there was something in the bright eyes that rarely left his. "Morning, Mystery Add!" he sang gently, tossing some food at its feet. "Breakfast is served!" Instead of tucking in, the pointy fuzzball picked it up and brought it over to him, laying it on his boot and staring up. Giving his coveralls a nip, it flipped over onto its back and giggled, play growled, and squiggled around. "Hey," he said, his eyes filling with tears. "Hey, Mystery Add. Welcome home." He had almost whispered, "Welcome back" but that was too much too soon and he caught himself just in time.