Sorry I haven't posted lately. It's been a long summer, but I'm back and so I hope you'll forgive my absence...anyway, here's my latest: Duck Billed Crush.
She knew she was close. She could feel it. Just a little bit longer, and - ah! There it was. As she stood on top of the hill she could see it: the Danville Fountain of Life. It was more obscure of an anomaly than the Fountain of Youth and not quite as reliable, but given its supernatural power it was inevitable that she find out about it. All she could see of it from where she stood were the white guardian-stones that surrounded it, lined up like monoliths to protect what was inside. She skimmed quickly down the hill, her eyes tracing the white rocks for the gap she knew was there, so she could get inside and have a look-see for herself. She darted easily between the rocks and then skidded to a stop at what she saw: the fountain itself, just a small overgrown pool nestled perfectly in the center of a cluster of palm trees. The water seemed to glow faintly with its power, and Moon grinned smugly to herself. Now that she knew this was here she would make good use of it; she would also serve to keep its secret safe. She knew the value of that from what had happened to the one in Seattle-someone had gotten the media involved and word about it had spread like wildfire. The fountain had been sucked dry in a matter of days and that had been the end of that.
Moon wouldn't let the same happen here. She sat by the edge of the crystalline water and stared into it for a few moments, but then stood up and gave it one last glance before turning to go back to her house. When she got home she could see the morning sun threatening to peek up over the horizon, which meant that it was about bedtime for her. She yawned and then curled up inside for some sleep, platypus at her side.
-three days prior-
Morning came early at the Flynn-Fletcher house, and the boys woke to the sleepy chatter of Perry, who had been sleeping with Ferb the previous night. Ferb yawned and then looked fondly down at the platypus, careful not to disturb him as he got up out of bed to start their morning routine. He and Phineas quickly got dressed and then headed downstairs for first breakfast and then the day's plans.
Phineas was in the middle of his third bowl of cereal when the doorbell rang, and without thinking he immediately hopped down from the table to go and answer it. When he opened it, however, there was no one outside, and he glanced around a few times in confusion. A sudden squeak from the sidewalk made him look down to see a small bundle, wrapped in a loose blanket. As he took it in both hands one of his eyebrows shot up, as he hadn't expected the bundle to be warm...he turned back to the house and called, "Ferb! Hey, Ferb, come and see this!"
After a moment Ferb came, noticing the bundle in Phineas' hands but making no comment. He didn't have to. Phineas knew what he meant.
"Yeah, it is a little weird," he agreed, his eyes shifting back down to the bundle in his hands. "Let's take it upstairs and see what it is."
Ferb followed him back to their room and sat back on his bed, and Phineas on his own, carefully taking a loose end from the bundle and pulling it apart. When he saw what was inside his eyes widened. "Ferb...c'mere and see this..."
Ferb looked down at the bundle in Phineas' hands to see the tip of a bill that was all too familiar. As Phineas pulled apart the rest of the blankets he could see a platypus: brown, a little smaller than Perry, with numerous scratches and cuts marking up its body. It sat timidly in Phineas' hands, shaking a little. Both its eyes were locked on him, watching very closely.
"Aww," Phineas carefully set the platypus down in his lap and kept one arm protectively around it. "We're not gonna hurtcha, little buddy."
The platypus whined quietly.
"Looks like whoever owned him before abandoned him. I wonder how he got here...?" Phineas' eyes shifted down to the animal in his lap, noticing the cuts and punctures that riddled its skin. It didn't appear to have anything broken, but it was clear that whatever had happened to it had left it in fear of humans. Its eyes were locked on Phineas in the same way a squirrel regards a hawk, and it only kept still in his lap because it was too scared to move.
"I think we should keep it," Phineas resolved, "At least until it isn't so scared anymore, poor guy."
Ferb nodded in agreement, then went downstairs to find a box in which to keep the platypus. He returned a moment later with an empty tangerine container and set it by the bed, grabbing a small blanket off the shelf and laying it out inside. He watched as Phineas gently placed the platypus in the box and then sat back.
The platypus immediately curled up in the box, glad to be out of Phineas' hands, but still kept its eye on the two boys.
"I'll go get it some food in case it gets hungry," Phineas stood up and went to borrow some of Perry's food, since he didn't think Perry would mind, and after setting down the food in the corner of the box he turned back to Ferb. "You know," he said, "I think Perry should meet the little guy. Maybe then he wouldn't be so lonely all the time."
Ferb quickly shook his head. He knew this wasn't going to work out.
"What? How come? Are platypuses territorial or something?"
Ferb gave Phineas a look. "You do realize this one's female...?"
Phineas' eyes widened in realization. "Oh, that's why...well, we'll just have to just keep an eye on them, then."
As if on cue there was the distinct splat-splat of webbed feet on the floor as Perry walked into the room. His wall-eyed stare allowed him to look at both boys simultaneously, and he chattered.
"Oh, hey, Perry," Phineas smiled as Ferb picked the critter up and settled him on his lap, scratching him behind his head. "We were just talking about you."
Perry had no comment.
"You know, Perry, there's someone I'd like you to meet," Phineas turned back to the platypus in the box, carefully picking her up and then setting her down on the floor in front of him. Ferb set Perry down as well, then sat back and watched.
Perry only stood with his cock-eyed stare, at least until he noticed this new platypus - a she-platypus, no less. Despite his best efforts his eyes slowly focused on her, and although his stare was the same the blankness it usually carried was gone.
The brown she-platypus didn't really know what to think. She stared back at Perry, still scared and now confused as well. What was this other one doing here? Was she supposed to fight it? Her owners had made her fight sometimes, usually against tougher animals like cocks or big dogs, so she regarded this other platypus carefully. She kept her eyes on him, taking a cautious step back.
"Aw, don't be scared of Perry," Phineas gave the she-platypus a careful nudge back toward his own pet, "Go and say hi. He won't bite."
At Phineas' touch the she-platypus squeaked, shrinking back away from him, and when the door opened a moment later she scrambled under the bed in a panic.
"Oh, hi, Marissa," Phineas turned to his sister and grinned, "We found an abandoned platypus so we decided to take her in, since we've got Perry already."
"Another platypus?" Marissa asked, "Can I see?"
Phineas took a look under the bed and shrugged. "If you can get her out, sure. She's a little shy, y'see."
"Oh," Marissa peered down under the bed as well. All she could see were two eyes peering back at her; they were clearly afraid of her, and so she backed off a little. Turning back to Phineas she asked, "You think she'll be okay?"
Phineas shrugged. "I think so. Maybe she just needs a little time to adjust."
Perry sat at the edge of the bed, staring back at the she-platypus underneath. He could still see her, backing slowly deeper under the bed. Her eyes looked fearfully out at him and she watched him, wary. He returned her gaze for a moment longer than was necessary, then quickly resumed his cock-eyed expression when Phineas looked down and began petting him.
"What are you gonna call her?" Marissa asked, glancing at the bed.
Phineas shrugged. "Beats me. We'll probably think of something."
Candace stomped into the room with the kind of look that Candace usually carried regarding her brothers-demeaning, with just a hint of sourness to get her point across. When she spoke her voice was obnoxious, same as usual. "Phineas, Ferb, you left the cereal out. Mom says you have to put it away." And then she left without another word.
"You heard her," Phineas said, "Let's go, Ferb. I'm sure the platypus'll be okay for now. C'mon, Perry, let's get you some breakfast. You must be starved!" He scooped Perry up and he, Ferb, and Marissa all stood to go. As they were leaving, Perry watched the bed, longing to truly meet the she-platypus. She was kinda cute, after all.