The division I worked in was one the company liked to claim as specializing in “modernization,” although technically we were just putting in electrical lines and similar things. Sometimes they had us stationed in these camps out in the wilderness, a few dozen kilometers away from towns. The place we happened to be at this time was near…sort of a fjord, I guess, just a bit lower in elevation from the area. So, it looked nice outside, but there was this frigid air coming down on the whole area that would chill you to the bone.
Anyway, it was technically a day off for me, but I was still staying at the camp since I had no real reasons to bother going home, so I’d decided to do some exploring to entertain myself. Unfortunately I’d gotten well out into the woods when it started to drizzle, and from the clouds it looked like the rain was just going to keep coming.
I didn't exactly feel like getting wet with that breeze coming down--and, well, to be honest, I'd dressed a little light for what coverage my fur gives me--so I went looking for shelter and found this boulder that kind of turned into an overhang. I heard something like a little whimper when I came around to the underside of it. That's when I saw this little cutie in the corner, hugging her tail to herself like a big stuffed animal.
Her eyes were right on me, and she seemed so frightened and so cold; all she had on was this torn-up shirt, with nothing to keep her little bottom off the cold ground.
I wanted to help her, but I was afraid she'd take off if I approached her right away. Actually, I was still standing outside of the rock until it started pouring, which kind of gave me an excuse to get a little closer. So I sat down with just my side to her, you know, not to let her out of my sight, but not staring her down.
I set down my pack to look for a blanket and the poor little thing got suspicious, and she started glancing between me and the bag. I told her it was okay and said she looked a bit chilly... She nodded, and the truth is, I was surprised that she understood me. Kids don't turn up in the wild that often, thank heavens, but when they do, they don't usually know a lot in the way of words, you know?
But she seemed so young, so if she understood me, then I thought she must have been separated from her parents recently, so I started to ask her some questions.
Are you lost? No. Don't you have a home? Yes. Is this your home? Yes. Will your mommy be back soon...?
The little darling said, "I don't got a mommy." So I asked her, "Are you all alone?" and she nodded.
Well, I found a shawl in my bag and offered it to her, but she didn't budge. I realized the girl certainly didn't have any incentive to trust a big scary stranger like myself, so I put it on the ground between us and backed off a little. I told her what it was for, and she very slowly took it over her lap.
It was adorable, the way she scooted her little bottom around to tuck the cloth under her, although around this time I was trying to think over what to do for this child. I'd had a strange feeling inside since she'd told me she was orphaned, but it was around this time that I realized what it was: I wanted her.
I had very little experience in caring for pups, and I didn't think I was really ready to be a mother-yes, Sweetie, I know, I was twenty-nine at the time. I had a boyfriend, too, but after I got Chelsea--well, anyway, I'm getting off-track. I didn't think I was ready, but I felt something for her, that I needed to be there for her, I suppose. I told her my name and asked for hers. Of course, you know she calls me "Mom," now. Oh, it still warms my heart to hear that!
Chelsea. I think it's such a pretty name for the girl. I told her the same thing when she introduced herself, too. Sadly, she didn't know her middle or last name, if she had one. But I asked her how old she was, and she told me, "This much," with four little fingers raised.
So, that's when I asked the next question. "How long have you been here?" And, well...she thought I was asking about the rock, at first. I never really found out the details to be certain, because Chelsea was really just too young at the time. But, it seemed that she'd been told to stay put, and the poor little girl's parents never came back, leaving her to fend for herself. To this day, I can't believe she lasted on her own long enough for me to find her.
I found out that she hadn't eaten in a couple days, because she'd been taught not to eat things unless an adult could tell her what was safe, and, with no adults around, she was afraid to put anything in her mouth. I understand the idea of teaching a child what's poisonous and what's not; but the way she was taught, this kid was going to let herself starve.
I hurried and looked through my pack, even though I'd only brought enough for a light snack, but I found a banana and a bottle of water, both of which I offered to the girl. The poor thing tried to bite through the whole thing, rind and all, so I used it as an excuse to slink closer while I peeled it for her.
While she ate, I asked her if she would like to come back with me, where it would be warmer and I could feed her more. She looked at me and nodded with desperate eyes. I didn't want to bribe a child with food, but I guess there wasn't much choice in the matter. I told her we would go when the rain cleared up, so we just sat together for a while...
I almost wanted to cry when she started leaning into my side. She was so cold, she must have been trying to warm herself against me, so I just put my arm around her and rubbed her shoulder a bit to help until she suddenly wrapped her arms around me, nuzzling into my chest. And this was the first embrace I ever shared with the girl who would become my daughter.
![[Fullcolor] In Blackest Night -- for Kitani](https://va.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/487/487229_Delicious_kitani_inblackestnight_half.jpg "[Fullcolor] In Blackest Night -- for Kitani")