The hen and horse ushered June to the couch in one corner of the homely living room. They sat down in armchairs. The questions began.
"So what exactly happened?" The hen asked Victoria.
"I was out walking around and I spotted June laying on the ground soaking wet. I helped her to her house, let her change, then made a midnight snack. At last I brought her over here," the horse finished.
June noticed a small framed picture on a side table. It showed the chicken and a blue bear standing beside each other, smiling for the camera. A small ribbon at the bottom of the frame read "Ava and Bluebear."
"June, I'd like to hear about what's happened to you. What do you remember?" the hen, who must have been Ava, said.
The human eyed Ava, having a hard time in believing she was a doctor. "All I remember is waking up and going outside. Then I fell in the river, managed to get out, and Victoria found me. That's all. I don't know what day it is, what town I'm in, why I'm here, or who either of you are."
A silence filled the room Ava appeared to be trying to comprehend what June stated. "You remember nothing?"
June nodded.
"Hm." She seemed to become very distressed, and then jumped to her feet. "I'll be back." The chicken hurried up a flight of stairs.
The reaction wasn't what June hoped for. It only made her feel worse. It was as if it was her fault for not remembering anything. She just woke up! That's all.
"So who am I?" June asked Victoria.
The horse opened her mouth to speak, then closed it, thinking. "Well… you're the mayor of Mustang. About a year ago you disappeared without a trace. The villagers searched all over, so did the police. You were just gone."
June raised her eyebrows. "Seriously? I thought I was asleep that entire time. Or knocked out. Or something."
A squeaking filled the quiet and Ava appeared at the bottom of the stairs. She held a composition notebook in one wing. "This is a notebook with all the cases I've worked on as doctor. None of them have been anything like this." She sat down and flipped through the pages. "The closest is a case to this that I can think of is an animal that disappeared for a week and didn't remember anything for a few days. I still never found out what happened… that poor wolf." Ava stared at the page, a small frown coming across her face. "At least his memory came back after some time."
"So maybe June's memory will return," Victoria chipped in, "we just need more time."
The hen only shook her head. "With being out for such a long time, I don't think it'll work out the same way."
Panic gripped June. She might not remember her life? Her family, valued childhood memories… all gone? But maybe it was for the best. Maybe she'd had a crummy childhood, an abusive family. However, she might never know.
A knock on the door caused everyone to jump.
"Ava, it's me, Biskit. I have a question."
Everyone shared an uncertain glance.
"Hold on a minute. I'm in the middle of something," Ava replied. In a whisper she said, "Victoria, June, go upstairs and stay quiet. I'll make this fast."
The horse and human did as told and disappeared up the stairs to Ava's comfortable cabin-like bedroom. Both stood in the center, listening as the door opened and the hen and Biskit conversed.
Straining to hear the conversation but being unable to, June crept over to the window where the curtains were pulled closed. She pulled one back and peered out into the night.
Plenty of trees and flowers coated the landscape. However, motion caught her eye.
An apple tree concealed a figure. Straining her eyes, June decided it was a wolf staring right at her. Once she realized that, the wolf ducked back behind the tree.
June let the blinds fall shut.
He saw her. Did he recognize her? Who was her? He acted too suspiciously to be just a villager.
"Come on," Victoria elbowed her.
"Huh?"
"Biskit left, let's go back downstairs."
June had been so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't hear the visitor leave.
She followed the horse downstairs and spotted Ava who looked like she wanted to bang her head against the door. "That darn dog! He comes to me complaining of a stomach ache, but when I bring up the book he's borrowing, he promptly leaves. He's lost my book! I should have known better," she squawked.
Victoria looked back at June with wide eyes. June only shrugged.
Victoria tried to distract Ava from her rant. "Um… aren't you going to try and help June?"
The chicken stopped, and suddenly realized what was happening at the moment. "Oh, right…" she trailed off. "There's nothing I can do."
"What?!" Victoria and June said at the same time.
Ava shrugged her shoulders. "At the moment, anyways. I'll work on it. For now, you should make sure no one knows that June is back. I'll let you know if I figure anything out."
That was their invitation to leave. The two visitors left, and began their walk into the night.
"What now?" June whispered as the crept through the trees.
"You can stay in your house and I'll-"
A figure stepped out of the shadows and into their path. In the pale moonlight, June could see silvery fur. It was the wolf!
"June? You'll be coming with me."
From out of the pocket of his trench coat, he pulled out a badge.
Oh crap.
So what do you think? Interesting or boring? I'd like to hear from you! Thank you for reading, I'll try and be quicker posting the next chapter.