Free Frozen Flora (The Gene Thief Series Book 2 - Short Story) by Jason Cole Page A

it would be the late night, walkers and joggers. She had spent so much time up there in her tree that she could pinpoint the regulars, the tourists, and those who were up to no good.
    Once the people-traffic had slowed down, it was time for Kira to begin her dinnertime meditation. She would start out with a mindfulness exercise by focusing on her breath and the feeling of the air passing over each and every inch of her skin. After that, she would begin to accept her oneness with the universe and try to let go of her sense of ego and separation from the world. She always seemed to struggle with this part. How could someone with no memory, no identity at all, try to relate with everyone else? If anything, her life suggested that she was more separate than most an outcast living alone on a deserted island.
    After she had struggled for a while to accept that reality, she would try to calm her mind. The stillness was terrifying sometimes, but over the years she had become comfortable and appreciated the benefits. Even in the middle of chaotic missions, her calm mind prevailed, saving her life more than once.
    It was at this moment, after she had attained perfect stillness, eliminating all invading thoughts or feelings, that she heard a soft whimper. She sat there and remained still, unwilling to open her eyes, trying to ground herself and block it out, letting the sound pass like waving clouds in the sky, acknowledging it but letting it pass by.
    There it was again, whimpering.
    I wish that damn owner would just let their dog take a piss already.
    She took some deep breaths, tried to regain that desired state of stillness, but it wasn’t going to happen. Something primal and desperate in that whimper attracted her.
    She broke her meditation, something she hated, and looked around for where the sound was coming from. She noticed a stray dog a half-mile away. It didn’t look like it belonged to anyone, and it seemed pretty big from where she was sitting.
    Like a monkey, she dropped down from limb to limb, using some as bars to swing to the next, and avoiding others entirely. She descended the entire thirty feet in a matter of seconds. One would think she had lived her entire life in a tree, if they saw how deftly agile she was.
    Calmly, she walked over towards the dog and, when she was just one hundred yards away, she noticed that it was growling and snapping at everyone that approached. She was not phased and the whimper continued to resonate in her mind.
    There were people around it, some on the phone probably calling animal control, and others taking photos with their phones. What else was new?
    She was now just ten yards away, closer than anyone else had dared to go, and as soon as she made eye contact with the dog, it fell silent. It lay down on the ground and looked up at her. The whites in its eyes made her melt inside. The wrinkles on his head, the little orange eyebrows, and how they contrasted against his coarse black fur, made him the most handsome dog she had ever seen. He must have been at least one hundred twenty pounds, and he was built like a Roman statue. No wonder no one wanted to approach him.
    In her most calming and soothing voice, Kira said, "Come here, boy. It's okay." She had no idea what to expect, but unlike everyone else, she had no fear. She wasn't aggravating an already volatile situation and, in any case, she was much quicker than any dog.
    The dog started to crawl towards her, not comfortable enough to stand up and walk, and stopped five feet away. Her heart was racing. This poor dog was petrified, and she could see it in his eyes.
    Someone had probably left him out here, she thought, the poor thing. The dog’s fear turned to anxiety, and anxiety turned to aggression. A tiring cycle she had experienced herself.
    She held out her hand, palm up, and she saw his black little nose wiggling as he sniffed and assessed the situation. He started to pant, and she noticed his shoulders ease, the tension