Chapter 7: Whispers from the Past

After her exciting visit to Speedy, Blythe returns to the Littlest Pet Shop, bubbling with enthusiasm, and wanting to share with her fur friends what she has found. She rushes through the door of the colorful day camp room.

"Oh pets! I've just come from seeing Speedy and he told me such amazing things about my mom," said Blythe, with evident joy in her voice.

Vinnie, ever one to react first, jumped with a pirouette. "Ooh, tell us, tell us! What secrets did you uncover this time?"

Blythe smiled, her eyes darting around the room full of curious gazes. "Oh, well, I have decided that I need to know some more. Speedy did mention a place called 'The Kindred Haven.' It's a shelter, and I believe we are going to find some more clues over there."

Zoe, cocked her head with interest. "That sounds like a real detective adventure darling! Are we all going?"

"Actually," Blythe turned her head toward two of the pets, "I thought Penny Ling and Russell could go with me tomorrow. We're going to have to be a little bit quiet about it, and you two are great for that." Russell was always ready when it came to being prepared for the mission, so he nodded in a kind of determined way. "Consider me all over it, Blythe. If there's anything to learn about 'The Kindred Haven,' then we shall discover it."

Penny bounced up and down in excitement, and then her usual sweetness showed. "Oh, that sounds so exciting and a bit nerve-wracking! But I will be there, if you need some help to keep things calm and peaceful."

Pepper said with a giggle. "Just take care of Penny Ling, Russell, you know how she is in new situations, so sensitive." Blythe gave the others an encouraging look. "We're in this together, pets. Every clue brings us closer to understanding Mom's mystery and my connection with all of you." In silent unison, the pets were nodding in a mix of excitement and determination in a gathering of support for Blythe.

Blythe found her father at that very moment, looking at old photographs. There was a kind of sadness in his eyes, and it drew Blythe over; so she sat down beside him with a mixture of curiosity and worry.

"Dad, may I ask you something about mom?" Blythe started carefully.

He laid the images aside and turned toward her, his face open and expectant. "Certainly, Blythe, what is it you want to know?"

Blythe drew a deep breath and hunted for how to phrase what she wanted to ask. "Today I spoke to Speedy, the tortoise mom kept as a pet, and he said that mom had volunteered a lot here in Downtown City. Why here, if we lived in our little town?"

"Your mother was born in the same small town where you were born, Blythie. But she went to study here in Downtown City during her youth. When we met and got married, we moved back to your hometown. And then, you know, not long ago you and I moved back to this city after I got promoted. This city always had a special place in your mom's heart," Roger shrugged as he approached the end.

"So she did have her way here?" Blythe asked, trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. "That explains why I saw in Mom's journal that she used to go out with her friends and spent time in this city helping people."

"Yes," continued Roger; his voice now soft but firm, "she loved this city and never lost time to come back and help to the others. It was her way to contribute a lot with volunteering since there were many programs to that here. She constantly talked about how much it meant to her to assist those in need."

"Thank you, Dad. It makes it clearer to me why she'd feel that connection with Downtown City," said Blythe, squeezing her father's hand.

Roger smiled sadly. "Your mother left quite a legacy of love and compassion here, Blythe. And I know she would be proud to see the woman you're becoming."

He stood up, offering Blythe a comforting hug. "Now, you better get some rest. Big day tomorrow, right?" he added with a gentle chuckle.

Blythe nodded, returning his hug warmly. "Yeah, big day. Thanks, Dad, for everything."

"Anytime, Blythie. Goodnight, and sweet dreams," said Roger, as he turned to leave, leaving Blythe with thoughts of the past and hopes for the next day.

The next day, arriving at the 'The Kindred Haven' shelter, there was some odd mix of nervousness and eagerness that filled Blythe in regard to what they might find. Beside her, Russell and Penny Ling looked determined and supportive, casting a glance toward one another before approaching the front door.

Blythe started to talk very quietly to the animals they met, using their special manner of communication. "Hello, do you remember my mother? She was just looking like me and volunteered for a whole lot of organizations." Blythe asked an old cat who was looking at one of the corners of the shelter and basking in the sun.

The cat answered with a hoarse, low voice, "I am sorry, dearie. I ain't seen your ma around here."

Undeterred, Blythe continued, "Do you know of an animal here who might have worked in a charitable organization, maybe on rescue missions?

The cat slowly stretched and then pointed with a paw. "Old Rex over there was a rescue dog. He worked in many natural disasters. Maybe he can help you more."

Blythe approached the place under the tree of repose indicated at a slow pace, helped by Russell and Penny Ling, as though he were some old nobleman.

"Hello, Rex?" Blythe started gently. "I heard you joined the rescue missions. Do you maybe remember working with my mother? She was just looking like me and volunteered for a whole lot of organizations."

Rex straightened his head, his eyes filled with memories. "Yes, I remember a very kind young woman who looked a lot like you. Her scent. It was pretty distinctive, with the help of a lot of organizations looking for her here.". Blythe furrowed her brow a little, considering what Rex had said. If her mother had been very involved in organizations, then finding that direct connection to her ability would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

And if this was such a special ability, the organization involved would, according to chances, not be in the limelight. It must be some really discreet organization, she thought. "Rex, what you mentioned is very helpful," Blythe said, trying to hide her growing anxiety. "Tell me, do you know of any of those organizations that was particularly discreet or quiet about their activities?"

The veteran dog nodded slowly with a faraway look in his eyes.

"Yes, there is one that always used to look suspicious to me. I overheard people talking about it sometimes. This one wasn't even accredited by the authorities, unlike the other organizations that have been in operation. It went by the name GERI. From what I picked up, they say GERI is good to its staff. They weren't very open about what they did, and the people who came from there always seemed to be on a secret mission. Your mother went with them sometimes, always looking very serious when she did."

Russell mentally took notes, his brain working at full speed, as Penny Ling gave Rex a comforting pat. "Thank you, Rex. That really could be the key to all this," said Blythe, looking at him with those big hopeful eyes of hers. "You've been a big help, Rex. Thank you very much" added Blythe, smilingly, and Russell and Penny Ling nodded in agreement. With this new clue, she felt that she was one step closer to figuring out the mystery of her mother's ability.

After an enlightening afternoon at the shelter, Blythe was on her way back to the pet shop. She was going over everything that had been said, and almost ran into the Biskit twins—Brittany and Whittany, striding side by side with their usual haughty arrogance.

"Oh, look who it is, Whittany, our dear 'friend' Blythe," said Brittany, blocking Blythe's way in a mocking manner.

Whittany crossed her arms and looked at Blythe in suspicion. "Yeah, so interesting to find you here. And what are you doing up to, Blythe? Any new secret plans which could ruin our father's business?"

Blythe—she really hadn't the time nor, for that matter, the inclination to put up with their usual intrique shenanigans—sighed lightly. "Sorry girls, but I really am swamped. No can do, not even small talk."

But the Biskit twins were not one to give in that easily. When Blythe started to walk off, Brittany leaned over to Whittany and said with a smile, "Something big is going down, and I'm not going to let Blythe get a jump on us. We're going to have to keep a closer eye on her, Whittany."

Whittany nodded eagerly. "Oh, yes. If she's hatching any plan that might affect our father, then we better come to know that beforehand. So get set, Blythe; we would be at your every step."

And with the new purpose in mind, the twins walked off, already scheming how they could best keep an eye on Blythe and find out what she was planning.

Blythe entered Littlest Pet Shop, all her fur friends inside colorful and lively, bounding over with anticipation in their eyes.

"Blythe, do tell! Okay, even if it's not everything, just tell us!" Zoe, hopped around Blythe. Pepper wagged her tail from beside Zoe, and Sunil, stood with expectant eyes.

Blythe smiled at her friends and began to tell them about her adventure. "Pets, you won't believe it; this is awesome. So, I was talking to an old dog, Rex, from the shelter called The Kindred Haven, and he was telling me all about the secret organization that my mother used to help for—GERI. Rex hasn't a very good memory, but he gave me a cool clue where I can fish for some more."

Vinnie, went into a small dance. "Wow! And what will we do now?"

Blythe nodded firmly. "We have to find more about GERI, but all my attempts for the search on the internet have been futile. So, I thought I'd ask Jasper for help. He's really good with computers and might find something I've overlooked."

Russell, the organized and methodical hedgehog said, "That sounds like a solid plan, Blythe. How do you plan to approach it with Jasper? Are you going to tell him about your ability to talk with us? He might wonder why you are so interested in this."

Blythe paused, choosing her words carefully. "Well," she said, "I'll ask him to use his search skills to locate any information about the location of GERI or anything related that might help us understand better what it is. And regarding telling him that I can talk to pets, I guess I'll wait for the right moment, because for now, it is not important that he finds that out."

Penny Ling, with her understanding and gentle nature, reached out toward Blythe and said as she touched the back of the young girl's hand with her little paw, "We're with you, Blythe. Whatever it is you decide to do, we'll be there to help and support you. And we know that when it's the right time for you to let Jasper and Sue in on your secret, it will be the right thing to do for everyone."

Blythe was comforted by her friends. "Thanks, guys. It really means a lot to me. I'm going to call Jasper right now and see what he can find."

The next day, Blythe met Jasper at school.

"Jasper, I need your help for something really important," Blythe started with a very serious tone, now gaining his attention at once. "It's about an organization called GERI. I'd really like to find everything you can about them. In return for sharing part of your time with me, I can offer to pay you from my allowance."

"Alright, Blythe. Why is it paramount?" Jasper said with equal finality.

"This is part of a very important personal investigation," replied Blythe, not giving the details. "I will tell you everything as I find them out."

After a week of intense searching, including two nights without sleep, Jasper called Blythe again on Sunday in the park. "I've found something, Blythe," he announced with a triumphant tone. "GERI stands for the Genetic Engineering Research Institute. I used several advanced tools to find this out."

Relieved and excited, Blythe leaned forward. "How did you find it?"

Jasper began to detail his process: "First, I set up specific alerts in academic databases and used advanced search operators to filter documents by key dates, focusing on specific years that have already passed. Then, I reviewed forgotten digital archives and newspapers from that time that mentioned GERI in small footnotes about biotechnology."

"Additionally," Jasper continued, "I used the Wayback Machine to access old versions of their website."

Intrigued and increasingly anxious, Blythe asked, "And do you know where this organization was located?"

Jasper nodded. "It was in an industrial warehouse in the industrial area of our city, although the place now operates under a different name: Advanced Center for Biotechnology and Conservation."

With this information, Blythe knew she was one step closer to uncovering the truth behind her mother's abilities. "Thank you, Jasper. This is exactly what I needed."

Both shared a look of complicity and determination, aware that they were about to explore deeper into a mystery that could change everything Blythe knew about her family and herself.

Later, there was something in Blythe that prompted her to share her thoughts and worries with somebody she could absolutely trust. She personally approached Youngmee at school the next day.

Looking at the stern face of Blythe, Youngmee knew that something really serious was up.

"Blythe, you look worried. What's going on?" asked Youngmee.

Blythe explained, "Jasper helped me look up the organization my mother worked with, GERI. We found out it was called the Genetic Engineering Research Institute, and it might have some answers about her abilities, and maybe mine."

Youngmee paused for a moment before asking, "Did you tell Jasper about your ability to talk to animals?"

Blythe shook her head slightly. "Not yet, but I plan to tell him and Sue together soon. I just need the right moment."

Youngmee said, "Ok, Blythe. So what are you going to do now?"

"There's some place, an old building where the institute was. Now they call it the Advanced Center for Biotechnology and Conservation. I want to go over there next weekend, but I got to wheedle my dad and Mrs. Twombly into letting me." Blythe scowled at the prospect.

Youngmee smiled with a determined look in her eyes. "Well, you know you can count on me to help persuade them. Do you have any plan on how you're going to approach it?"

"Yes, I guess I'll just put it out there that I'm kind of interested in the place without giving too much, of course. For my dad, how this may help me research more of my mom. And for Mrs. Twombly, maybe I can convince her that it's part of a study for a new fashion design inspired by biotechnology," Blythe planned.

"That sounds like a good plan, Blythe. And if you want me to come along to give more weight to your research, just let me know," Youngmee said supportively towards her friend.

"Thank you, Youngmee." said Blythe, suddenly choked up at the outpouring of love from her friend.

With a plan in place and the support of Youngmee, Blythe felt ready to face whatever lay ahead. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was determined to march on for the answers she might find.

That afternoon, Blythe saw her dad walk through the door of the Littlest Pet Shop suddenly.

"Dad, do you have a minute?" Blythe spoke, her eyes searching for the face of her father, who had his head up and a big grin on his face.

"Of course, Blythie, I always have time for you. What's up?" her father said.

Blythe took a seat beside him and clasped her hands. "It's about a place I need to visit. It's important."

Her father nodded, wanting her to continue. "What place are we talking about?"

"The Advanced Center for Biotechnology and Conservation. Before, it was known as the Genetic Engineering Research Institute," said Blythe as convincingly as she could.

He looked at her with a half expression of curiosity and concern—trying to understand the true mood of the girl. "Sounds pretty interesting, Blythie. But tell me, why do I feel that there is something more to it?"

Blythe sighed. "It's just that this place might have answers about my mom and some things I've recently discovered."

Roger leaned forward, and now his expression was completely serious. "Blythe, you know you can trust me with anything. If this is about your mom, then it's important. How can I help?"

"I'd like to go there this weekend. I need to see if I can find something that helps us understand certain things better. But I don't want to do it alone," Blythe told her father, looking with hope into his eyes.

"Blythie, of course I will support you. And if this is something you have to do, then I'll do it with you. Not only because I want to help you but also because I care for what you are going to find out about your mom," Roger said, humanely putting his hand over hers as a gesture of unconditional support.

Blythe smiled, glad for her dad's support. "Thanks, Dad. I really do appreciate it."

"When have we ever let challenges stand in our way?" Roger replied with a smile. "So, pack up all your tools; this weekend is the real deal. It's going to be an adventure for us both, and come what may, we'll work it out together."

That made Blythe's heart lightened, and she nodded, feeling that with her father beside her, she could face every truth they were going to find. They shared a long, comforting hug, which conveyed all the words they didn't need to speak. With a final squeeze, Roger let go, smiling warmly at her.

"See you soon, Blythie. Remember, I'm just a call away if you need anything before the weekend."

"I will, Dad. Thanks again," Blythe replied as she watched her father walk away. As he disappeared from view, her mind returned to the mystery at hand.

Why did my mom say in my dream that the answers were right here? What was it about this specific place that held the keys to her past? These thoughts whirled through her mind as she gazed out the window, the fading sunlight casting long shadows. She felt that the answers were close and hoped that the next weekend would reveal what had been hidden for so long.

Suddenly, a thought struck her, causing her to pause. Wait a minute, didn't Henrietta Twombly also talk to animals? she muttered to herself, recalling the episode of "Treasure Hunters". The notion briefly excited her, but skepticism quickly followed. No, that must have been an exaggeration or an alteration of the reality show plus the rumors that still exist about her, she reasoned, feeling a mix of disappointment and curiosity.

Though she couldn't be sure, Blythe resolved to investigate this as well. I may never know for certain, but I'll try to find out more about that too, she decided, adding another layer to her quest for the truth. Her resolve hardened; the journey to understanding her unique connection with animals and her mother past just became even more intriguing.

Meanwhile at the Day Camp Area, the pets' concerns and emotions intermingled as they discussed Blythe's upcoming trip. Zoe, with a mix of concern and excitement, spoke first. "Darlings, do you understand how big this is for Blythe? She might finally get to learn more about her mom and, maybe, more about herself," Zoe said.

"Yes, but it's also a bit scary, isn't it? I mean, what if she finds something she's not expecting?" Sunil added, his voice trembling slightly.

"But that's what's exciting! It's like a big mystery movie and we're part of it!" Vinnie exclaimed, unable to stop himself from his surge of excitement.

"I hope Blythe is careful. We don't know much about that place, GERI. And the whole secret thing—it sounds pretty mysterious," Sunil said.

"Oh, we have to help her! Should we prepare like some detective set or whatever?" Minka suggested, bounding around full of energy.

"Well, first thing is that Blythe should not be going alone. Even if her dad is going with her, we should plan a few ways by which she stays in touch in case something is needed quickly," Russell suggested.

"I just want her to be safe and happy. And also to find the answers she's looking for, but I'm afraid it can be a lot," Penny spoke, and her voice trembled.

"That's true, Penny Ling dear, but we know Blythe; she's not going to give up until she gets to the bottom of this. We need to show her all our support and love, just like we always have," Zoe said in a more human tone.

"There! And maybe when she comes back, we could give her a grand welcome that would let her feel, more than ever, how much we value her and how proud we are of her, no matter what she finds," Pepper suggested with a smile.

"YES! A surprise party! NOTHING says 'we support you' better than a great party with all your friends!" screamed Vinnie.

"That's it then. Time to get ready in helping Blythe in whatever she needs. And remember, we're in this together!" Russell concluded, smiling at the very concept.

AN: Blythe got more clues about her mom and her ability, so she will continue her investigation with her friends and her dad.