"No, not a shifter. And she's just a baby. About four months old now, as best we can tell. She was six or eight weeks old when I found her. Well," Nathan appended with a reminiscent smile, "she found me. She'd been attacked by something... a dog or coyote most likely... and managed to escape. She came and tapped her antlers on my patio door."
"Oh, the poor thing," Regina exclaimed. "Was she okay?"
"She was a little torn up. And I wasshookup," he emphasized. "Anyway, I went next door... my neighbors do rescue work... and borrowed a dog crate from them, and I took her to a vet clinic, one that was out in the country, not in town. And the vet who saw her, well,hewas pretty shook up, too."
Nathan couldn't help grinning, remembering the scene in the exam room. "He took one look at the jackalope, then went to the door and hollared 'Cat!' and here comes this gorgeous Maine Coon into the room, and he's glaring at her, and shows her the jackalope. And the next thing you know... she changed into a human being. And the vet was yelling, and she was saying she didn't know jackalopes existed, either, and there were more people in the room, and someone pushed a stool under me so I could sit before I fell on the floor. Oh, man, it was wild!"
Although she'd heard the story before, Harper laughed in appreciation. "I can see it now," she said. "I've seen how Troy gets when faced with yet another new being."
"Troy!" Regina fixed on that. "The veterinarian, yes. He's Katerina's husband, right? He was on the talk show with her."
"Yes, that's them," Nathan agreed. "He's human, and like me, he's still adjusting to everything. And then it turned out the others in the exam room were shifters, too. So the doc fixed up her injuries, and sent me home with instructions. Then that afternoon, a whole crew of bobcat shifters showed up, and built her a big pen out in the back yard."
"Bobcat shifters!"
Harper thought Regina might actually swoon for a moment. Nathan grinned at his mother. "There was a hawk shifter, too."
His father's gaze went to the patio door. "So you're keeping her out there? Can we see her?"
"Oh, she's not out there. She's in here." Nathan grinned again, like the cat that ate the cream. He nodded toward the now darkened dining room.
His parents turned in their chairs to stare across the room.
"I don't see anything," Charlie said.
"Jackalopes have their own kind of camouflage." He opened a plastic tub he'd brought from the kitchen, pulling out a wedge of apple. "Jill," he called. "It's time for treats."
From the dark distant corner of the dining room, a shadow separated itself, moving forward until a tiny wriggling nose was visible, and big dark eyes.
"Treats," Nathan said again, as his mother gasped.
With one hop, the small jackalope came fully into view. Both parents stared, looking stunned. Regina appeared bereft of words.
"It's... a jackalope," Charlie finally said, his voice full of wonder.
"She is," Nathan agreed, as Jill came up to him, accepting the offering of apple, and munching contentedly as he stroked her fur.
"Yes, but that's not a jackrabbit," his father commented, continuing to study the little creature.
"No, I'm thinking she's American Sable. I've done some research online."
Regina found her voice. "You call her Jill?"
Nathan shrugged, looking a little embarrassed. "It seemed right. I mean, she's a jackalope, but she's a girl..."
Harper took in their bewildered expressions. "Jack and Jill," she supplied.
"Oh!" Regina shook her head, laughing. "Of course. Will she come to me?"
"She'll come to anyone who offers her food," Nathan said, grinning, as he pushed the tub of cut-up fruits and vegetablesacross the table. Regina took a leaf of romaine lettuce and, leaning down, clicked her tongue at the little jackalope. Obligingly, Jill hopped right over to her and began to chew on it. The expression on Regina's face, of delighted charm, made Harper giggle. When Jill had finished the treat, Regina tentatively stroked the long ears.
"Oh! She's so soft!"
Nathan nodded. "That's why I think she's American Sable. They were bred originally from chinchilla rabbits."
Charlie addressed Harper. "Do they know how jackalopes evolved?"
She shook her head. "Not a clue. And in fact, everyone thought they were extinct, no one had seen one for decades, until Jill here showed up at the vet clinic. There's been a flurry of interest amongst our scientists and researchers."
