In which The Ball returns like a phoenix.

Kibbles laid in his hospital bed in silence. He was still wearing a neckbrace, but, at this point it was more a formality than anything, since nanotech-based healing had shortened medical treatment to such degree, that theoretically, he should have been out by day two. The thing is, the marging of error that still exists in the form of “secondary effects” was important enough that patients must remain under watch for at least a week, lest they develop “nanotumors” while out and about.

Kibbles was willing to endure the wait.

He trusted his new doctors. They had saved his life and they also fed him this delicious meat-flavored paste that also doubled as teeth cleaner (and when you got a lot of teeth and they can move, this little detail becomes a boon). And the nurses were kind-no, enthusiastic about keeping him clean (they seemed to love his shiny silver-blue fur). So, all in all, it wasn’t so bad.

He still missed his friends, though.

Something inside him was telling him they had to be present or he would begin to succumb to uncertainty. It was a need for familiarity he did not acknowledge before, as it had been years since the monotony of his secluded experience had been broken by chaotic events, such as the arrival of the xenos, the disappearance of the human scientists, his newly self-inflicted accident, and the loss of The Ball.

“Separation anxiety.” Said a little voice in his head, reminding him of some random fact he once heard as a human.

Was that his current predicament? He didn’t know.

There were so many confusing things going on. His blur recollection of his past self, his blur recognition of his present self, his lack of consciousness for his future self. He was in a void, pretty much, and his soul cried for an anchor. Any anchor.

Swoop The door opened. And his prayers were heard.

“Hey, champ! Guess who?” Said Feathers, his emeral-green four-eyed chicken-raptor friend, entering the room with a big grin and a bag in claw. Kibbles lighted up immediately.

“(Hi, Nuggy.)” Ninjutsued Kibbles, tail wagging under blankets.

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“That’s also me!” Said Feathers, thumb pointing at himself.

“Hi,bro.Howareyoufeeling?” Said Noodle, his ruby-red snake-man friend, approaching from beside Feathers.

“(Hi, Noodly. I’m ok.)”

“You must be so bored from staying in bed, eh?” Said Feathers, both him and Noodle now standing by the hospital bed.

“(Yeah)” Kibbles gave a sigh, ears back.

“Shedoctorshaidyou’llbebackoutshishfriday,shohanginshere,buddy.”

Kibbles smiled thin, but his eyes revealed a feeling that had returned behind his relief at seeing his friends. “(I’m sorry, guys.)” Signaled Kibbles, ears down.

Feathers and Noodle stared at him puzzled. “Don’tbe.” Said Noodle. “Shishishjushpartofshetreatment.”

“(No. I’m sorry for provoking you.)” Kibbles was now ashamed.

“What are you talking about?” Said Feathers, smile gone and head tilted.

“(I provoked you into playing rough. And it ended in our ball destroyed and you two angry.)” He paused, his presence becoming smaller. “(It was my fault.)”

“Ah” There was a collective realization between Feathers and Noodle, and their expressions revealed pent up shame now.

“That’s, uh…” Said Feathers, words escaping his grasp.

“Itwasheveryoneshfault.” Said Noodle, acknowledging his own responsibility. “I’mshorryforbeingafool,guysh.”

“Me too. I’m sorry for destroying our ball…”

There was a pause for shared shame.

Then, mutual silent understanding made its way sheepishly, as the trio exchanged smiles of embarrassment at the realization that the whole matter was kind of silly, all things considered.

“Ehem” Noodle suddenly elbowed Feathers, shaking away the awkwardness. “Showhimwhatyoumade.” Said him to his Karnakian buddy.

“Oh, right.” Feathers reached a claw inside the bag he was carrying. “I, uh, tried to fix the ball too.” And from it, he took out a bunch of feathers and leather scraps glued together in the misshapen form of a ball. “It’s not my best work, but I think we can still play with it.”

There was another pause.

Then, suddenly.

“Hue, hue.” Kibbles laughed in metal bass. “HUE HUE HUE HUE HUE HUE HUE”

Feathers and Noodle exchanged looks of nervous surprise. But before long, they too broke into laughter with their friend.

“HUE HUE HUE HUE HUE HUE HUE”

The Ball was back.