Remembering Mulan, a feline profile in courage

Shortly after she came to live with me, I watched Mulan take her first step outdoors. Hesitant and a bit afraid, as all of her six years had been spent indoors. She, who had only walked on carpet, wood and tile, for the first time in her life was about to walk on grass. She put one hesitant paw out, an advance guard – testing, feeling, trying. Deciding this strange floor was OK, she followed with the other three paws. She, who had only looked up at ceilings reachable from the top of a book