AIMING FOR THE STARS
"Granny, we're back!" Shouted the snow leopard cub as he ran inside the room.
"Alexei, it's pretty late." Kira simply noted, glancing at the small cat over her shoulder, quickly returning her attention to the soup she was cooking; she wasn't scolding him, though, Alexei knew that much.
The old goat only wanted to know they had been away so long.
"I know, granny, but Mr. Pawlenko gave us extra money to help him clean the shop after the closure." He replied, reaching Kira's side and showing her a bunch of banknotes.
"You and your sister are such workaholic..." The goat chuckled, lightly shaking her head. "Where is she, by the way?"
"On the roof, where else?" Alexei replied, rolling his eyes.
"Will you please look over the soup for a few minutes while I go fetch her?" Kira asked kindly, passing the ladle to the snow leopard, who nodded and quickly grabbed a box to stand on in order to reach the pot placed over the old stove.
Kira grabbed her cane and slowly began to move across the room, passing from the small kitchen to the living room, where a dozen of other kits where playing: a bear and stoat were having a stare contest, with the latter trying to cheat in every single possible way; an hare was playing chess with a reindeer, with two twin artic shrews and a pika covering the role of a few pawns that had been lost long before; a raccoon and a bat were drawing with crayons.
"Kits, start to clean up, dinner is almost ready!" Kira told them while she began to climb the stairs leading to the upper floors.
"Yes, granny!" A chorus of voices replied to her request, and a sudden commotion could be heard as the multitude of young animals got in motion to do as the goat had told them.
As more chuckles escaped her lips, she made her way to the second floor of the small, old house, crumbling wallpaper and mould and turned the knobs of the meta door leading to the rooftop, which opened with a loud creak.
Kira's lips curled in a soft smile at the familiar view before her eyes: a young wolf was sitting on the ledge, her legs hanging over the street two stories below; her head was pointed upwards and she was staring inside a spyglass.
"It's getting cold, you'll come down with a flu if you aren't careful, Laika." Kira told her as she reached her side and putting her shawl around the kit's shoulder.
"Oh, granny!" She said startled, almost dropping her scope. "I didn't hear you coming."
Kira chuckled. "Why am I not surprised?" she replied, ruffling the fur between Laika's ears.
"Granny, stop!" She complained, even if the smile on her muzzle betrayed her amusement.
"Alexei told me you managed to gain some extra money today." Kira stated. "I hope you two aren't overworking, you are supposed to have fun and play with other kits at your age."
"We both know we can always use more money, the orphanage is still standing by miracle." She sighed sadly. "Beside, this is what I do for fun!"
The smile returned on her snout as she lifted the spy glass.
Kira returned her smile, her mind bringing up the memories of Laika's eighth birthday: the wolf had always shown a fascination for the astronomy, so Kira and Laika's siblings had saved some money to buy her a telescope.
Unfortunately, the money weren't enough for that, so they had to settle for a spyglass instead, but it was welcomed nonetheless by Laika's absolute joy, and her happy expression was still impressed in the old goat memory as one of the best moment of her life.
Six years had passed since then, and Laika had yet to grow tired of going up there to peer at the stars every clear night.
And that night was perfect for stargazing: not a single cloud could be seen, and the dim light of the few sparse lampposts down in the street didn't provide enough light pollution to be a concern for the young wolf.
'One of the few perks of living in this part of the town.' Laika thought bitterly, returning her attention to the stars above her.
"Oh, my sweet Kudrjavka, you don't need to carry all the weight of the world on your shoulders: we are a family, and we help each other, because that's what a family does." She kindly told her, enveloping her in a warm hug.
Laika returned the hug for a few seconds, until a powerful sneeze escaped from the goat.
"Looks like you'll need this more than me!" Laika laughed, handing the shawl back to the old goat.
"Get to my age, and then we'll see who'll laugh!" Kira snorted, taking her shawl and throwing it over herself.
"Anyway, I've come here to tell you dinner is ready. You better come down quickly, or Viktor will eat your bowl too, you what he's like: I swear, one day he'll end up eating me as well!" She chuckle as she began her descent to the ground floor.
Laika gave one last glance to the starry night, before strolling after the old goat.
Later, that night, as she laid in the lower bed of a bunk bed while all of her siblings in that room were asleep, Laika stared at the slates over her head: there, she had glued the picture of a beautiful, young artic vixen with piercing amber eyes.
She had cut it out from a paper a few months before, from an article praising the deeds of "Albina, the first mammal to reach 85 km height in sub-orbital flight".
"One day, I'll go up there too..." She whispered to herself, before closing her tired eyes.
She had always been told that mammals saw their whole life flashing before their eyes shortly before their death.
Instead, Laika saw those few minutes. 'I wonder why...' She thought, but even thinking caused her pain, and was becoming harder to do along with breathing.
'Maybe is because back then everything was simpler, and happier.' She thought sombrely.
Clenching her teeth to not howl in pain, she turned her head to the left, and looked outside the porthole.
'If this is the last thing I'll ever see, though, it's not half bad' And that thought managed to bring a weak smile on her snout.
FAREWELL, LAIKA
"Please, I need those drugs!" Laika begged the pharmacist.
"I'm sorry kit, but I've already enough debts with me. Pay me, and I'll give you the meds." The tiger replied, real regret in his voice.
The young wolf was about to retort, but another voice came quicker than hers.
"I'll pay for it." An adult wolf said, smiling at Laika.
"Mr. Pawlenko..." Laika trailed off; she didn't want the other wolf to pay for her, she had always gained the money she needed by herself. But this time, she had to accept.
"...Thank you." Laika finally replied with a weak smile.
After Mr. Pawlenko had bought the medicine for her and condoms for himself (which had made Laika blush severely), they got out in the chilly winter air. Their feet sank in the soft snow that covered the streets of Saint Petersbork, and their breath condensed in small clouds before their noses.
"Thank you again for purchasing the medicine." She told him as they started down the sidewalk.
"Don't worry, that's the least I could do after all the years you and the other kids have been helping me in the shop." He replied with a kind smile, which fell shortly after as he asked: "How's Kira?"
Laika's ears fell down and she sighed sadly. "Worse than yesterday, but probably better than tomorrow."
"I'm sorry." Mr. Pawlenko put a paw on her shoulder.
"Well, I'm not expecting her to get better anytime soon. This" she raised the paw holding the newly-purchased medicine "is just a palliative. What granny really needs is way too expansive for us to ever be able to afford it."
They stopped walking as they reached the next intersection. "This is were our ways part." The older wolf announced.
He knelt down, to level his eyes with the one of the younger wolf: despite her being eighteen, she had remained quite short. "Don't worry, she is strong, and I know you won't give up until you've found a way to help her."
Laika smiled shyly at the compliment, and Mr. Pawlenko got up. "Now, I must really go! My wife is waiting for me!" He told her with a sly grin, nodding at the small bag containing his purchase from the drugstore, and Laika found herself blushing again.
After parting from Mr. Pawlenko, she picked up the pace, and reached the orphanage: from it came a banging sound, letting her know Alexei was at work fixing something. That sound had been a constant for the past two months, since new repairing were needed almost on a daily basis.
"I'm home!" Laika announced to no one in particular. It was early in the evening, and most of her sibling were still out doing their gig, but they would soon be home.
"Hi Laika!" A voice welcomed her from the kitchen: it was Viktor, busy making dinner.
"Hi Vik!" She replied to the bear. "I'm checking on granny, then I'll come right back to help you!"
She headed for the first floor, meeting Alexei on the way, hammer in his paw.
"So, what broke down this time?" The wolf asked annoyed.
"Last night's snowfall had creaked the roof of two bedroom, but this time I fixed it before it gave in entirely." He replied, sighing. "You know that I cannot keep this place standing for much longer using only wooden planks, nails and duck tape, right?"
"Well, I have faith in your handymammal skills." She replied with a grin, putting a paw on his shoulder.
The snow leopard blushed a little and quickly changed the subject. "I see you've managed to get the drugs once again." He noted, pointing at the bag Laika was holding.
"Only thanks to Mr. Pawlenko active sexual life." She replied, laughing at the confused expression on the snow leopard face. Her laughter died soon, however, as her eyes fell upon the door leading to Kira's room.
"Today was good." Alexei told her, as if he could read her mind. "She even got up and made lunch for me and the others."
A smile appeared on Laika's muzzle at the news, but it began to waver moments later and before she knew, she was sobbing uncontrollably.
"Hey, it's all right." Alexei told her in a soothing voice, hugging her. Laika burrowed her forehead in Alexei's chest, holding to his shirt.
"I don't want her to die!" She blurted out between sobs.
"Everything will turn out fine, and you know why do I know that? Because I have you by my side. You are the bravest and smarter mammal I know, and if anyone can find a way to solve our problems, that's you." Alexei told her in a warm, kind voice, stroking the back of her head.
Finally, Laika managed to recollect herself, parting from Alexei and wiping the tears from her eyes. "Thank you, Alexei. I'm glad to have you by my side as well."
Alexei simply smiled, blushing again; he was of the same age as Laika, and they were the oldest out of the kits living there. The leopard was the only one Laika allowed to see her worries and fragilities, and same thing went for Alexei: only a few days ago, it had been him who had had an emotional breakdown, and Laika had been the one to soothe him.
"I-uhm-better go and see if I'm needed downstairs." He stammered, clearly embarrassed by the words of the wolf, and he ran down the stairs, almost tripping.
Twice.
"Silly leopard..." Laika thought shaking her head slightly and chuckling. Then, she took a deep breath and stepped inside Kira's room.
The old goat was in the bed, under the blankets, the shadow of the mammal she had been once: she was so thin one could count all her bones whereas she once was quite hefty; the rhythmic raising and falling of her chest was the only hint that she was still alive.
"Hey, granny, are you awake?" Laika whispered.
"No." She replied with her usual chuckle, which turned in a terrible coughing fit.
Laika resisted the urge to grimace at the display, instead putting up the best smile she could and sitting on the bed next to Kira.
"I've got more meds. They should be enough for another month." Laika announced.
"I hope you aren't starving your siblings just to get those." Kira replied with a scowl.
"Nope, we are eating just fine. Mr. Pawlenko kindly paid for them this time."
"And what about the house? Are you being cheap on the repairing?" The goat inquired.
"Alexei can take care of those just fine." She retorted.
"What good will those drugs do when this whole place will crumble on my head and on the ones of your siblings?!"
"I'm sorry, are you mad at me for trying to keep you alive?!" Laika growled.
"I am mad at you because you are wasting money! I'm going to die anyway, you might as well use it to keep the other kids warm and well fed!"
"Wasting money?!" Laika said outraged. "Your life matter to all of us, and we are all more than willing to make a few sacrifices! We need you!"
"No, you don't! Your siblings have you and Alexei! You can take care of them just as good as I used to!" Kira replied.
They stared at one another for a long time, in the complete silence of the dimly lighted room.
"But I could save you..." Laika mumbled.
"We have already talked about it. The answer is still no." Kira replied flatly.
"The aerospace program is looking for new recruits for the next mission They pay is incredibly good and there are basically no requirement other than being over 18!" She explained for the nth time to the goat. "I could fulfil my dream and help you and the kits!"
"Oh, trust me, nothing would make me happier than seeing your dream come true, but haven't you wondered where is the catch ?" Kira asked her. "There's only one reason mammals would pay such a huge amount of money, and that is to make other mammals shut their mouth; you'd almost certainly be walking in a death trap!" Another violent fit of cough shook the goat.
Laika decided against continuing the discussion with Kira; instead, she gave the goat a kiss on her cheek and tucked her in. "Fine, granny, I won't go. But I won't give up on you either. Now, rest."
The wolf got up and, before she had left the room, Kira was already snoring.
Once outside the room, Laika closed the door behind her and leant against it, fighting back the tears once again forming in the corner of her eyes.
A few hours after dinner, Laika was sitting on the ledge of the rooftop, gazing at the stars with her spyglass, like every time she had needed to reflect.
"What am I supposed to do? I can't let granny die, but at the same time... she could be right..."
Her ears perked up at the sound of the door leading downstairs opening with the usual creaking.
"Polina, what are you doing still up?" The wolf asked.
"I had a bad dream." The 6 years old deer replied.
"I see." Laika replied thoughtfully.
"Here, come sit next to me." She said patting a spot at her side with her paw, an idea taking shape in her head.
The small doe did as she was told.
"When I was your age, to forget about bad dream, I used to come up here and look at all those beautiful stars with this." She told Polina handing her the spyglass.
Polina carefully took it and looked through it. Laika gently moved the doe's head to direct her to various constellations and planets: she showed her the Big Dipper, Venus, the Cygnus, Jupiter.
Polina awed in amazement every time Laika showed her a new one.
"...and that is Andromeda" Laika said, pointing to another group of stars.
"What is an 'Andromeda'?" Polina asked, not familiar with the word.
Laika chuckled. "It's not a thing, it's a name: Andromeda was a princess."
At the word 'princess', the attention of the deer drifted from the stars to Laika. "Really?" She asked with wonder.
Laika nodded. "According to the myth, her city was plagued by a terrible sea monster sent by an enraged god: it destroyed the crops and devoured mammals. In order to make it stop, an oracle told to the king of the city that Andromeda had to be scarified to the monster. In order to save her city, she wad willing to give her life, and she was chained to a rock and offered to the monster."
"She was really brave..." The doe said.
"Yes, she was. And her bravery was rewarded: an hero arrived just in time to save her and kill the monster. And they lived happily ever after." Laika finished her story.
The wolf smiled as a yawn escaped from the doe's mouth.
"I think it's time for you to go to bed,now." Laika commented, and Polina was about to give the scope back to the wolf, but she shook her head. "You keep it, in case of more bad dreams."
Then, Laika took her paw and walked her back to hear bed. "Goodnight." She whispered kissing the doe on the forehead.
Once the wolf had left the bedroom, she had made up her mind on what she had to do; she went straight to her room and, as quiet as she could, she began to pack a small bag with her few belongings: some clothes and some books about astronomy she had 'forgot' to bring back to the library.
"So, you are leaving?"
Laika froze when she heard Alexei's voice.
"Yes." She finally replied after a few seconds of silence. "Are you going to stop me?"
The snow leopard knelt beside her and looked at her in the eyes, before smiling and handing her a few banknotes.
"Like if anyone could stop you from doing anything." He scoffed.
Alexei got up and offered her his paw, which she took gladly, and Laika never left it until they reached the front door.
Laika opened it with a trembling paw, and the cold air of the night wrapped their bodies.
"I wish you would stay." Alexei said aloud, staring outside.
Laika gulped nervously.
"Why don't you ask me to, then?" She replied, looking at him.
Alexei turned his head to face Laika, then cupped her cheeks with his paw and leant over to gently kiss her.
Laika stiffened in surprise at first, but then kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck.
When they ended the kiss, she realized they were both crying.
"I couldn't ask you that, because I love you too much to bare seeing you trapped inside this cage. You are not meant for this life." He told her, stroking her cheek with his thumb.
Alexei let go of her, and Laika stepped outside.
"Goodbye, Alexei. Take care of the others while I'm gone." She said, before turning and starting to walk away toward the nearest bus stop.
"Farewell, Laika." She heard Alexei say at her back.
She didn't turn around, however, as she knew that if she had done so, she wouldn't have had the strength to leave ever again. Instead, she began to run, tears clouding her sight.
For a long time, she had thought that she was like Andromeda, ready to selflessly give her life to keep her loved ones save.
Now, however, she wasn't sure anymore.
She instead felt more like Icarus: she had been warned, and yet, she had chosen to ignore the words of the mammals who loved her only to follow her foolish dream.
'That's a funny thing to think of, when you are about to die.' She thought, as the burning sensation once again spread all over her body, forcing a pained scream from her lips.
Notes: so, this a little project I came up with some time ago, and I decide to finally write it down. Originally, it was meant to be a one shot, but now I decided to make it a bit longer, adding some backstory for Laika.
Anyway, it won't be too long, I've planned three, maybe four chapters.
I hope you'll enjoy it!