Missy Goes to West Point

by P. G. Allison

  “What happens when you find them, Missy? I get that you’ll Change back, get dressed and bring them the phone. Then what? How do you protect your secret?” Mike was watching her as she began to actually pack things into her backpack.

  “I’ll give them that phone and make them promise not to tell anyone. They can say they had this phone all along but only got it working the next day. I’ll be staying with them for at least two hours and then I’ll leave. They’re not going to ever understand how I got there anyway. So, they can’t really tell anyone else my secret, since all they can do is tell some unbelievable story about me, which I’ll just deny.”

  “And, the two hours? I suppose it’ll take longer than that for any rescue party to reach them. But still … why wait?” Mike was trying to show his support by acting as a sounding board for her, so she could fully explain her plan.

  “That’s because of this recuperation thing with my Shifting and the energy I use doing it. Once I Change, it takes over two hours before I can Change again and a total of six hours before I can Change a third time.” She laughed. “Just be waiting with lots and lots of food for me when I get back down here, because I’ll be so starved. I’ll probably lose close to ten pounds and I’ve not bulked up for this adventure, so I’ll be really, really skin and bones.”

  Chapter Three

  Jan 2018

  Mike drove them up the mountain but they were stopped before they could get very far. The snow was really coming down now and the roads were already blocked off; no one was allowed to go up any further due to the severe blizzard raging up there. Mike turned their car around and once they were out of sight, he pulled off to the side at a convenient turnaround. He’d been making only idle chit chat with her as they’d been driving up, not wanting to play twenty questions. If she really was a werecat and could Change the way she’d said she could, he’d know soon enough. Suddenly, he began chuckling to himself.

  “What’s so funny?” Missy was amped up now and her tension and anxiety were taking their toll. She could use a good laugh to relief some stress.

  “Well, I’m just thinking how my silly sister … I mean … she obviously planned on getting the two of us together this weekend, right? So she and Aaron … you know. What’s funny is I’ll be getting to see you naked in just a few minutes but, instead of this being a night of our making wild, passionate love in our room, you’ll be off doing this St. Bernard rescue dog thing -- as a cat, no less -- and I’ll be going back down to wait in that lonely room and worry about you. And then? When we finally see her tomorrow? I think I’ll leave it for you to explain things then, Missy!” Mike started laughing and Missy could only join in.

  Suddenly, she began laughing even harder, with tears streaming out. “The best part? When she sees how skinny I’ll be? Losing ten pounds during one night of wild sex with you? Yes, I’ll be telling her all about that, Mike. Count on it!” More laughter for them both. And, she did feel a lot better.

  They got out of the car and walked a little ways into the woods, which were now completely white everywhere. The snow was really coming down and it was windy. “Once I Shift, I’ll only stay a minute, Mike. This really means everything to me, that you’re being so supportive. I promise I’ll make it up to you somehow. Later. Enjoy the show!” Missy began taking off her clothes and it was indeed a strange experience for them both. Mike was not able to see in the dark the way she could but even so, this was a bit weird.

  Once she had all her clothes off, she strapped on her special backpack and she was ready. She’d already left all her jewelry back in their room. She was freezing and her nipples were aching like crazy but she had to show Mike she loved him, so she ran over and gave him a huge hug and kissed him. He was surprised but quickly responded, hugging her and kissing her back. She broke away and took a few steps to separate them. “Wait for it, Mike!” She crouched down on all fours, paused to let her mind go to that special place, began that strong exercise of her will that she was now so comfortable with making, and she Changed.

  Mike was watching and waiting and when she crouched down, he was prepared. Even so, when he saw the great shimmer of light and felt the burst of energy right there in front of him, it was a shock. Even more shocking was the huge cat animal now standing where Missy had been, staring at him with those glowing yellow green eyes that were definitely still Missy’s eyes. A mountain lion wearing a backpack. Unbelievable. She slowly approached him and he could suddenly hear her purring. That was even more unbelievable. He reached out his hand and she actually licked his glove with her tongue. She pushed her head against his leg, turned around and suddenly she was gone. He wasn’t even able to hear her. He waited for several long moments and then bent down to pick up all her things.

  -----

  Missy was actually thrilled to be doing this. She was back climbing on Mount Washington, in her cat form, finding her way through deep snow, and all her memories from four years earlier when she’d been doing the exact same thing were flooding back into her mind. It was exhilarating and she knew she’d been missing this. She was somehow meant to do this. Her powerful cat body was now just as familiar to her as her human body and she loved being able to once again move as a cat.

  She had only been provided with a general area for where the group was supposedly planning to go on their way back down. And they’d reported being stopped somewhere above the 5000 foot line. So, she climbed. The storm was blowing snow with the fierce wind driving it horizontally, in huge gusts. There were deep pockets she needed to work her way around and slippery ice she navigated with care. Up she went, higher and higher, hour after hour. And, then she searched.

  Dawn eventually broke and she was still searching. The storm had let up for brief intervals only to come howling back. It didn’t seem in any rush to go away. She continued to cover ground, traversing various ravines and pathways and had actually gone up to the peak a few times. And then, finally, she found them. She scented them while still a long distance away but that was enough. It took her half an hour to work her way over to where they’d set up their tent, but she managed. They’d picked a decent spot, protected from the wind, but one that would never have been visible to anyone from the air. And, the snow drifts had filled the area with plenty of deep snow.

  She was able to smell the four people inside the tent and they seemed okay. She looked around for someplace to Change, picked out her spot and went there. No one was outside the tent so her secret was safe. She Changed. Then she removed her backpack and pulled on her clothing. It was freezing cold but Missy was able to tolerate a lot of things which a normal human would find unbearable. Her outfit was not all that warm, made of that thin space age material, similar to those space blankets, but it was adequate for her. She pulled on her boots, hat and mittens and picked up her backpack which still contained the satellite phone. She was ready.

  -----

  James was just thinking about going outside to relieve himself. They’d all managed doing that during the long night, once for each of them, and it was a brutal experience. Pissing outside with the freezing blizzard snow blowing with such ferocity was indeed just that: brutal. He’d also gone out with Bob, who couldn’t put any weight on his ankle, and had needed his help. Joanne was still making jokes about how frozen her ass had gotten when she’d been out there, even though it had been during one of the lulls in the storm. They kept hoping for some further letup in the wind and snow and, with the dawn of this new day, he thought it perhaps was lessening.

  Suddenly, as unbelievable as it may have seemed, they all heard a girl’s voice calling. “Hello the tent! Anyone awake in there? Can I come inside?”

  He zipped down the tent flap and looked outside. Standing ten feet away was this girl wearing a silver suit, black boots, black stocking cap and an unbelievable amount of gorgeous red hair blowing all around her head. And, he even recognized who she was! It was that girl Missy that had jumped out of a burning house with a boy in her arms. Last summer. In a bathing suit.
She’d had her hair tied up then but he’d never forget her.

  He also would never forget the way she’d miraculously healed up. She had definitely broken a bone in her leg, which had needed to be set. But, when he’d checked at the hospital a few days later, he’d learned how she had stopped in on her way to work, again in her lifeguard bathing suit, and had then paraded around in front of everyone. Her leg was fully healed and they even had x-ray’s that proved it. Fully healed in four days? That definitely had gotten his attention and he’d then read up on her. There had been quite a bit out there on the internet, including video clips on YouTube. She’d won an amateur first place trophy in mixed martial arts at some big Expo in New York and the videos of her doing that had almost gone viral. She was indeed spectacular to watch.

  “Hi Mr. Murray! I understand your phone went dead. I brought you one that works, with GPS and everything. Can I come inside?” Missy smiled one of her brilliant smiles at him, which made the creases in her cheeks almost look like dimples.

  “Of course you can! Missy, right? I remember from last summer. But? How in the world? Come in, come in!” He waited as she squeezed through the opening and came inside. With five of them, they were very crowded but they all made adjustments so there was room for her. She sat down, opened the backpack she was holding and pulled out a satellite phone which she handed to him. He took the phone and said, “Are you an angel, Missy? This can’t really be happening, can it? How did you get here and how did you find us?”

  Missy laughed and said, “Can you introduce me to your friends? Then we can talk about stuff.” She looked at each of the others and could see they were all staring at her in total amazement. But, those amazed expressions were also happy ones, so she smiled at them.

  James introduced everyone to Missy and Missy to them, explaining how he’d treated her after firemen had carried her out on a stretcher from behind a burning house. He looked at her now and asked, “I’m not going to ask you about the leg since I already heard from everyone at the hospital.” He looked at the others and added, “She somehow mended her broken leg in just a few days. She apparently isn’t a normal girl. Maybe that’s why she’s able to appear up here out of thin air, like magic.”

  “Actually, guys, that’s not far from the truth but, since it’s magic, I can’t really explain it to you. You know. If I told you? Then I’d have to shoot you? Yadda-yadda-yadda, right?” Missy laughed and they joined in, but still looked at her with puzzled expressions.

  James turned on the phone and could see that, indeed, it was working. “How did you even know we needed this, Missy?”

  “I’m actually staying at the same lodge as you folks and I was there yesterday morning when you went out. I overheard you all talking at breakfast about the hike and everything. Then, they told me last night at the desk about your situation and how your phone died. So, here I am!” Missy knew they would never understand, so she tried to keep it simple. She’d been way across the cafeteria when she’d heard them talking and they’d not even seen her there. They’d all left before she’d had a chance to say hi to James.

  Joanne spoke up and said, “Here you are? That’s it? Just like that? Please, Missy, we are thrilled about the phone, which might even be saving our lives. But? How is this possible? Surely you can explain this. I mean, is there any rescue party out there or anything? You can’t just show up all alone like this …”

  Missy now got serious and explained, “Actually, I can just show up like this and I am completely alone. You folks are going to have to just accept this because I’m not going to explain it. Sorry! Way too complicated and you still wouldn’t understand. Or, believe my explanation. But, more important, you all have to promise me that you’ll never tell anyone else. About me being here or anything. You’re going to say you got your phone working this morning and that’s all. Okay?”

  This of course caused them to all talk at once and the discussion then went on for several minutes, with Missy insisting they just accept the mystery and agree not to say anything about it. She also insisted they make a call and activate the GPS signal so they could be located. After several minutes on the phone, James was advised there would be a helicopter coming for them once there was a break in the storm and it was safe to fly up there. James assured them they were all fine and could wait until then, no problem. Everyone in the tent was greatly relieved. Help was on the way, even if that might still be several hours away.

  Missy turned to James and said, “I really do want this to be a secret. I’ll stay for awhile but then I’ll be leaving. You’ll probably see me again down at the lodge, though, later on … when you guys all get back, safe. I just can’t explain things for you folks any better than this. But, as you already said. I’m not a normal girl. I hope you can just leave it at that. Okay?”

  James studied her and slowly nodded his head. “I get the feeling that if we tried to explain about you being up here, you’d just deny it. Right? So, we’d be left trying to tell everyone about something no one would ever believe. They’d think the altitude sickness got us or something.”

  “Exactly, James! I’m really glad you understand.” Missy then looked at the others and, after some further discussion, they all had to agree. They were actually wondering if she was really there or maybe they were experiencing altitude sickness. That conversation brought on more laughter and they continued to talk about how bizarre and crazy this whole weekend was ending up for them.

  What they thought was even crazier, however, was when Missy announced it was time for her to go. The storm outside their tent had only reduced its fury by about half and was still fierce. The cold and wind were unbearable, as the guy’s had each discovered when they’d once again gone out to relieve themselves. All three had gone out there together. Joanne was still waiting, although her bladder was telling her she’d have to go out there sometime soon.

  As Missy got ready and was pulling on her hat and gloves, Joanne asked, “How can you even survive out there, dressed like that? I didn’t pay that much attention before, but that’s not really warm enough. Not unless you’re an alien and have a space ship out there, hidden away. Is that your secret?”

  Missy laughed and said, “All I can say is that I’m definitely not an alien. Sorry to disillusion you but … actually … if that’s what you’ll all be comfortable with believing, then go ahead. Just think of me as an alien.” With that, she hugged Joanne and then gave each of the guys a kiss on the cheek. “Gotta go! My boyfriend’s been patiently waiting for me. See you all tonight!”

  She emerged from their tent and walked out into the storm. After a few steps, she turned and waved at James who was watching her, and then she continued on until the tent was no longer visible. She picked an appropriate spot and removed all her clothes which she stuffed back inside her backpack. As she strapped the backpack on she took several deep breaths. It was exhilarating, standing out there in the midst of a raging snowstorm like that, freezing in her naked human form as she prepared to become a cat. Then, she crouched down and Changed. Moments later, now warm enough in her furry form, she headed back down the mountain.

  -----

  Mike had been checking with the front desk and they’d called him that morning when word was received about the hiking party. There was good news from the group up there, who were all okay -- they'd somehow gotten their phone working and managed to send out their GPS location. There would be a rescue team bringing them in once the storm let up, probably sometime that afternoon.

  He hadn’t been able to sleep at all, with so many thoughts about Missy going through his head. His girlfriend was a werecat. The girl he’d already realized might be the one, the special one that maybe was meant for him, if those feelings they seemed to have for one another would continue -- she was a werecat. He’d actually seen her Change. And, knowing the phone call from that hiking party was because she’d actually managed to find them, just as she’d said she would, was just further proof.

  He’d worried all
night long and up until getting that phone call, the many possible scenarios had been tormenting him. Was any of this even real? Would she be okay? Would he ever see her again? What if she was to get hurt or worse, might die out there? As his thoughts continued to whirl around, processing everything and somehow making the unbelievable become believable, his heart was telling him something else. The only thing that was changed by his learning Missy was a werecat was that now he loved her more than ever.

  Before? He had been pretty sure. He had allowed his imagination to play out a zillion possible scenarios, all with her in his life. And, he’d realized there really wasn’t anyone else who could possibly compare. He’d hoped they could continue to grow closer and, if she did end up going off to West Point, he’d make whatever adjustments might be necessary to be her guy. If she’d have him.

  Now? Now he realized he couldn’t think of living without her in his life. The thoughts he’d been having about her maybe not coming back? Those convinced him. Life without Missy would just never be what his life could be with her in it. No matter what that required. If she was willing to accept him in her life, he was totally committed now. She owned him. His only concern was whether he could possibly own her in return. The fact that she’d now shared her secret was very encouraging. If she was willing to give him her love the way he was hoping he could give his love to her, that was all that mattered.

  His phone rang with the special ringtone he’d selected for Missy. She was back! He answered right away and heard her voice, telling him where to come pick her up. She’d come down as far as she could, in her cat form, and then had Changed. Now she was hungry, so could he hurry?

  -----

  “So, what excuse did you make up for Michelle?” asked Missy. They were still in the restaurant but she’d finally finished eating. She’d not actually lost ten pounds but she had indeed looked much thinner when Mike had picked her up. Their waiter hadn’t quite believed her when she’d ordered that second complete steak dinner, before she’d even finished devouring the first one. Mike had laughed quite a bit at that.