Chapter 2 – MRin
I'm not too proud to say that I hurry as I make my way to the grooming room. I've been keeping my distance from Carmen–I've had to, for self preservation. I'd gotten my hopes up with her, despite my best intentions, thanks to M'Rinna's excitement over securing Carmen's contract. My sister's excitement had waned a bit after bringing her home to the breeding facility. Probably because Carmen's cognition had crashed faster than usual, although for some reason M'Rinna still has high hopes regarding Carmen's fertility.
I'd felt drawn to Carmen the moment I'd seen her, but distanced myself when it became clear her cognition wouldn't be retained post-transformation. In fact, she is even more docile than usual. I desire a cognisant breed-mate, one who could be my life-partner–my wife, even–despite the social scandal that would undoubtedly provoke. While transformed humans are full citizens of Bovaria, and are therefore afforded the same rights that Bovarians have enjoyed for generations, there are very few with enough cognition to participate in society, and those are rarely given the opportunity, despite the protections put in place. As such, a social stigma persists that they are lesser. Some Bovarians even view hus as little more than animals, despite the fact that only their generous gift of fertility stands between our race and complete extinction.
That is certainly not how I view them, and I won't tolerate that kind of prejudice from any of the Bovarians working at my breeding facility, but I can't help desiring an equal partner as the future mother of my children. A partnership that I want to persist long past the act of creation.
The strong pull I'd felt towards Carmen, despite her level of cognition, had therefore created a set of very confusing and conflicting feelings, so I'd forced myself to step away.
But now there is a hint of returning cognition–something that has never occurred in the fifty years since the Human Bovarian Hybrid Transformation Agreement was signed, and the first humans were transformed into hucows and hubulls, now referred to by both our species as hus–and it has me hurrying to her side.
I pause just before the doorway to the grooming room and collect myself. I don't need my staff to see me in a state, and Carmen is unlikely to respond positively to frenetic energy.
When I step through the doorway, my attention zeroes in on Carmen and H'Nue, and I only briefly acknowledge the others in the spacious room; two staff members–a bull and a cow–are grooming two hucows. The hucows are kneeling on all fours, as they almost always are, and I'm pleased to see their relaxed body language and sleek pelts. Their udders sway softly with their movements, making it clear that they have been well-milked this morning.
I exchange nods with my staff, and keep my pace deliberately sedate as I make my way over to the prime position just in front of the glass wall where H'Nue is brushing Carmen.
He glances up, and a relieved smile spreads across his face.
I address H'Nue, since Carmen doesn't acknowledge my arrival. “How's Carmen going?”
“Good,” he says affectionately, as he continues to brush the fine, dark-mahogany pelt I can see developing.
Carmen's skin appears exceptionally healthy, which is a testament to H'Nue's care, since her early and rapid development would be worsening the usual itching and irritation that occurs at this stage of transformation.
I have a lot of respect for the experienced bull, and I'm flattered that he returns it, despite my younger age. It's occasionally challenging to manage workers older than me, however I find it well worth it for the experience they bring to their roles. H'Nue was young when he came to work for my father, long before I inherited Resbis Breeding Facility, and now I find that his presence reinforces a very welcome sense of continuity.
“She's no longer responding to me directly, but doesn't seem to have completely sunk back into docility. Maybe you could try talking to her?”
“Of course.” I move to Carmen's head and sink down onto my belly, keeping my body slightly angled away from her and my movements slow and smooth.
“Hey, Carmen,” I murmur. I get a bare flicker of green eyes in my direction. It's a small action, but is vastly different from how a docile hucow reacts to her name. The movement is sharper, more intentional.
I stretch my neck forward to touch my wide nose to her still-narrow one; a familiar greeting gesture between Bovarians, and one that hus usually adopt very quickly.
Something flashes in Carmen's eyes and she startles, her nostrils flaring as she takes in my scent.
“Easy now,” I soothe. “Just saying hello.”
She stares at me for a few moments more, then looks away. Instead of feeling disappointed, I am elated–although I'm careful not to show it–because her action was deliberate, not one of a docile hucow losing interest in something new.
I glance at H'Nue and give him a quick nod, to which he heaves a silent, relieved sigh, even as he continues to brush Carmen with long, smooth strokes. He's probably relieved that he didn't call me down for nothing. I'm a very relaxed boss, but I am busy, and I know that my staff don't like to disturb me unnecessarily.
I spend a bit more time with Carmen, but she seems to sink back into apathy. I don't get any more reactions from her, even when I touch my nose to hers as I say goodbye.
“Keep me updated,” I say to H'Nue before I leave.
“Yes, sir,” he agrees.
I slowly make my way back to my office. Science and experience has told us that it is impossible for a hu's cognition to return once lost, but this interaction with Carmen has me reassessing that belief. I'm oblivious to the friendly nods from my staff as I mentally map out the research I need to do and the phone calls I need to make.