The baby flicky's eyes widened in terror as he felt the scourging hot formula pour down its throat; causing in repairable damage. If it was sentient it would scream or cry but in its non sentient confusion it all it could muster was a high pitched chirp that sounded like a human whine.

Amy, "Oh mister flicky what is the matter don't you like your baby flicky formula'? "

Amy dipped the eye dropper back into the overheated formula, sucking more into the dropper. She went to put it into baby flicky's mouth.

Though baby flicky was young he knew better then to take the scorching feed and tried to shut his beak but when Amy brought the feeder to his mouth he squawked in disapproval. A terrible mistake to make; Amy took the opportunity to shove the eye drop feeder into his mouth and squeeze the formula in. Burn a pone burns, if a tear ever fell from a flicky's eye this was the time it was best suited.

As the days passed the flicky could no longer feel the burning pain of being feed over heated meals, he must of built a tolerance; but alas one he woke to find himself tired and difficult to move.

Amy, "Shadow! There's something wrong with flicky."

Shadow, "He appears to be sick."

Amy, "SICK! But I took such good care of him."

Shadow, "Amy! Don't worry, I will call the vet, it will be ok."

Tears were in Amy's eyes.

Amy, "Shadow how do you do how to make me feel better,"

Shadow, "Amy, I love you."

/

The vet came to the house. He was a duck with a French accent.

Vet, "Yes, I examined your flicky. It seems to have a terrible throat infection do to injury. Please tell me how you feed him."

Amy, "Well, I heat his formula in the microwave and feed it to him with this eye dropper."

Vet, "Did you check the temperature?"

Amy, "Yes! Of course!"

Vet, "What about hot pockets?"

Shadow, "mmmm hot pockets."

Vet, "DAMN IT! THIS IS NO TIME TO JOKE! A HOT POCKET! A space within the food that is extremely hotter than the rest! It's very common in microwaves."

Amy, "What!? I didn't know there was such a thing."

Vet, "I'm sorry. I suggest you monitor the temperature of more thoroughly and add theses antibiotics to his feed, hopefully they'll work."

The vet gave Amy antibiotics and instructed her and Shadow before taking care of an animal, "know what you are suppose to do." Then bid them for well and left.

Amy tried hard. She stirred the formula and measured the temperature. Shadow was by her side for support. She put the antibiotics in the formula and feed flicky.

Even though Amy did everything right, it didn't work. The damage done to baby flicky was too much to overcome. Flicky never regained his energy. He peeped a few times and fell silent.

Amy, "AHHHHH! IT'S MY FALT HE'S DEAD. He doesn't even have his first feather"

Shadow, "Amy don't say that, you done your best. If it's any one's fault it's mine. I let you take care of him alone instead of helping you because I was preoccupied with my own wants and not thinking about the needs of others."

Amy, "OH SHADOW!"

Shadow, "Amy."

Amy and Shadow embraced. As they hugged Shadow was first to pull out a razor blade and place a cut on Amy's arm. Tears streamed down her face. She took the blade from shadow and cut his arm a single tear fell from his eye. They squeezed each other tighter feeling the bound grow between them.