Chapter 41, everybody! And I think in my writing up on this I might be getting close to having it entirely written out…might bump it up to posting twice a week once that happens but in the meantime know that we have updates clean into the new year—and to this fic's first anniversary. :D

Continuing blanket disclaimer: I still have not finished Season Two. We're flying blind, boys. And again, a good chunk of these chapters were written before I had been able to bring myself to watch "Countdown to Catastrophe"…and in other news, yes I'm still in denial of the end of "Countdown to Catastrophe" don't at me. D:

And sad news…Ducktales is going to end with Season 3, no Season 4, please send lots of angry e-mails to Disney Corporate, they have a thing about ending shows at three seasons even when they're doing well. *shakes fist angrily*

So on the topic of this chapter…Hiro has now done what every dog owner has done at least once, don't lie to me. Although in my case, I have to hope it's the black lab that's fooled—the Dalmatian has never fallen for a fake-out, it's eyes on the prize all the way. XD

Also…two things: one, the boys made the mistake of getting on the kids' level, and two…they aren't Tadashi or Sue or Beth, all bets are off as far as the bird-kids are concerned, they have plans to find their new limits and they are committed. Also probably worth mentioning that if you have parrots you never let them get above you, that's a position of power and you can't keep an eye on them—if one sits on your shoulder, you're showing that you really trust it (and risk a bite to the face, unfortunately).

I am not entirely certain if you can make what Heathcliff and Baymax did, but you can fry ice cream so I'm going with maybe. It's kind of a hybridization of onigiri and a Berliner (stuffed donut) and is basically the entire balanced breakfast, with fruit in the middle, oatmeal in the place of rice, rolled in pancake batter and then fried. I…actually need to see if I can achieve this….

And once again, I looked something up for this fic—mostly because I was almost certain that Baymax would definitely have a medical explanation for a brain freeze. He does. XD Also have the breakfast medical advice from him, although I got that one from Mom first.

In other news…I'm almost entirely certain Hiro learned several words he wasn't supposed to in Good Luck Alley, we just don't see or hear it because Disney. And in writing out this chapter…we're talking chapters 34 and 35 that Hiro's referring to—yes, Hiro, it's been weeks. X'D

For those who might not know about such a thing—pre-pandemic, mixed learning is basically a combo of online and campus learning. Fun stuff. The bird-kids' POV, meanwhile, was written ahead…and we finally see what happens when Violet has a full belly of high-sugar content.

Angelwings2002, thanks for the review! Yes—Louie is definitely part Momokase. XD Yes, more banter, and soon more everyone! Hopefully….*dances in confetti*

Hexyah, thanks for the review! It's definitely based on it, so that's why. XD Yeah, that's a pity—but at least it made you laugh! :D And yes—our little girl's growing up. *sniff*

Big Hero 6 © 2014 Disney

Ducktales © 2017 Disney

Hiro slowly struggled back awake, aware of the fact that the sun was shining on his face.

Groan, wave his hand around, trying to find the string to his blinds to drop them—five more minutes, please—he felt like he was hit by a trolley and then left on the pavement. No, seriously, his bed felt like a rock—

Roll to his back, squint at his ceiling…wait, he used to have a ceiling what happened?

Oh…right…overnighted at Fred's because there was no way he was going back home and trying to explain his appearance to Aunt Cass when he wasn't firing on all cylinders. Which meant that the reason he felt this way came crashing back, and everything that went with it—

A bird face leaned into his line of sight. "Dashi-Hiro?"

Groan, rub his face, feeling the band-aids all over it. "I was hoping I dreamt that part."

"Dashi-Hiro!" Webby chirped brightly, sounding like she was jumping over him. "Dashi-Hiro Dashi-Hiro YES!"

"Dashi-Hiro no," Hiro muttered, sitting up and taking in his surroundings. Webby was still happily bounding around, Lena was still dozing on the one couch, Honey Lemon and Gogo stretched out on patio chairs, Nox rolling upright next to him and chirping.

"Mornin'," Hiro said without enthusiasm, looking around for the remainder of Big Hero Six—

Fred and Wasabi were on the blankets that had been for the kids, Fred using Wasabi as a pillow, Wasabi flat on his back and the both of them snoring—

And Violet seated on Wasabi's chest, watching his face intently and bobbing up and down as he breathed.

"Uh, no," Hiro said, scrambling to get up oh why did everything HURT—oh yeah, nearly dying multiple times last night. "No bad bird-kid we don't sit on Wasabi—"

"'Zabi yes," Webby said, bouncing up and down next to Hiro. "Dashi-Hiro yes fwee yes yes—"

"Dashi-Hiro no—I told you, it's just—it's just Hiro," he told her.

"Dashi-Hiro fwee yes fwee chirp yes—"

"I don't know what you're after."

Nox tapped his face, the critically pensive expression he was pulling smacking too much of his original—disappeared into the bushes before returning with the tennis ball, tapping it against Hiro and repeating the noises Webby was making.

Hiro finally took the ball, turning it over in his hands. "You want me to throw this? Is that it?"

The bird-kids were bouncing up and down now, nodding and repeating that noise.

"Okay," Hiro sighed, winding up for a pitch—pause, consider the bird-kids watching him intently—

Followed through, nearly pulling a muscle with the strength of his pitch, bird-kids already off—

And him quickly stuffing the ball in a hoodie pocket.

"Well that should buy me a few minutes," Hiro said smugly—froze when he realized Lena was watching him. "Uh…how much is your silence worth?"

She narrowed her eyes at him—okay now he could see it—shrieked and cawed loud enough for Gogo to start flailing around for her alarm.

It also had Nox and Webby running back, barreling direct for Hiro.

Panic, try to tug the ball out of his pocket to get rid of it—wasn't fast enough. Nox hit first, Webby a split-second after, tennis ball flying as Hiro went sailing back, bird-kids clinging tight, fortunately landing on something soft.

Unfortunately, that something soft was Fred, him squawking OW! as they all went rolling—Wasabi snorted, started awake—froze when he realized Violet was sitting on him. "Uh…."

Hiro tried to struggle out from under the bird-kids, Webby leaving him alone to tackle Fred and roll him, Nox pinning him—he had a moment of panic, of disassociation flinging him away from the here and now to one of his nightmares—

And then Nox screeched, prompting Lena to come bounding over, squawking—

"No wait stop stop stohahahap stop that tickles!" Hiro squawked, squirming and trying to get free and away from the one poking bird-kid who apparently had the special ability to find every ticklish spot he possessed. "Help!"

"Fred is down—FRED IS DOWN!" Fred wailed, one arm up dramatically. "WASABI! AVENGE MEEEEE!"

"Do I look like I'm in a position to do any avenging?" Wasabi asked, hands gingerly up and between his face and Violet's. "No, no…good bird-kid, nice bird-kid—"

"'Zabi," Violet said, still watching him intently, ear flicking at the sound of the other bird-kids rendering Hiro and Fred useless.

"Half of Big Hero Six out just like that!" Fred gasped, hands clasped over his head to protect it from Webby bounding all over and flopping and rolling on him. "Dudes we're supposed to be farther along the ten-step program than this!"

"Will you all SHUT UP!?" Gogo yelled finally, half-pushing herself up to squintily glare in their general direction. "Who let you idiots into my apartment!?"

"Gogo, HELP!" Hiro squawked, trying to get free—no, Fred had the right idea, trying to curl up as small as possible at least reduced the number of spots Lena could get to, even if it didn't negate Nox's weight on him.

Gogo seemed to finally register what was going on—launched herself off the patio chair and was hauling Lena back in moments—Lena squirmed free, swinging her legs up to push away before righting herself and scurrying away, circling around and darting back in as soon as Gogo had her arms full of Nox, who pulled the same trick.

"Oh no you don't," Gogo muttered, hugging him tighter to her chest. "HONEY LEMON! I NEED AN ASSIST HERE!"

"Zzzzyes Andre I'd love for you to teach me French," Honey Lemon muttered, rubbing at her face a little.

"HONEY LEMON!"

"ZzzyaAAAH I'm up I'm up!" Honey Lemon yelped, launching herself upright, hands up. "What'd I miss?"

"I COULD USE SOME HELP HERE!"

"NO!" Nox wailed, squirming around, feet grasping and sharp claws flashing—Hiro managed to get about a foot before Lena tackled him and started with the tickling again.

"Ohgosh no that's bad bad kids!" Honey Lemon gasped, running over and pulling Lena off—and dropping her quickly when she did the same trick she had done to Gogo—tried it with Webby instead. "No being mean to the boys!"

Webby made a sort of shree noise, pointing at Fred but not trying to squirm out of her grasp. Fred bounced upright—was knocked flat by Lena.

Hiro took the opportunity to scramble upright, gasping for air as he teetered away—Nox finally stopped squirming, seemed to be angling for innocent now.

"Fwee," he noised, looking up at Gogo.

"Don't even," she said sternly, glaring down at him. "Bad bird-kid, no treat for you."

Lena seemed to realize she was the only one left standing—ceased her poking of Fred to jump on him and screech, wings flapping slightly before flopping down and rolling off of him—and then getting into what looked like an argument with Violet.

"Haah," Fred noised, arm flailing before connecting with a table—hauled himself up, trying to catch his breath. "HAAAH…okay…we're going to have…to go over…step one again…hoo boy…."

"What was that?" Honey Lemon asked.

"So," Hiro gasped, leaning heavily on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. "So…it turns out bird-kids…don't like it…when you fake throwing the ball."

"Understandable," Gogo said, looking down at Nox. "Are you going to behave yourself?"

"Yes," Nox said. Gogo dropped him—

The second his feet hit the ground he tackled Hiro again.

"HEY no bad you just lied to Gogo bad bird-kid," Hiro protested, trying to squirm out from under Nox again.

"Dashi-Hiro," Nox said, purring and doing his best impression of a sack of potatoes.

"I'm not—you know what forget it I give up," Hiro sighed.

"You—bad bird-kid, no treat for you," Gogo repeated, hauling Nox off of Hiro and ignoring his no-no-nos. "And you—get off Wasabi, he's sensitive."

"Very sensitive," Wasabi agreed, still focused on Violet—froze when Lena started poking at his hair. "Oh no someone help—"

"Hey," Hiro called, getting Lena to look up at him. "Leave Wasabi alone—no that doesn't mean get on me STOPPITTHATTICKLES—"

Lena cheered before flopping down on Hiro, rolling around before rolling off of him—he barely had time to sit up before Nox tackled him and flattened him again. "SOMEONE HELP!" he begged.

"HERE!" Fred barked, diving for a nearby hutch and yanking out a remote, pointing it at the wall—the bird-kids looked, intrigued by his action—Webby whistling with interest and Lena hissing when a piece of the wall slid up—

Went catapulting to that wall when the opening for Ducktales came on, chirping and batting at the TV with interest.

"Are you okay, Hiro?" Honey Lemon asked, helping him upright.

"Yeah," he wheezed, staggering a little—directed his attention to Fred. "Seriously?"

"It has been seriously on my mind," Fred confessed, shrugging a little. "But hey! Apparently this gives us about twenty-two minutes of peace and quiet!"

"Uh," Wasabi noised, still on the ground—and still with Violet on his chest, watching him carefully. "I still have a problem I could use an assist here."

"Gotcha," Fred said, scooping Violet up and carting her over to the television. "Wanna watch cartoon duck versions of yourselves?"

"No," Violet said, craning her neck to look back at Wasabi—was quickly distracted by the TV and the others warbling at it.

"Is having the TV babysit really such a good idea though?" Honey Lemon asked.

"Not sure if you noticed, but five people could not restore order," Gogo said, helping Wasabi up.

"Oh thank you," Wasabi gusted, sagging a little. "My whole life flashed before my eyes…I have things to organize later."

"Seriously?"

"Hello," Baymax greeted, waddling through the French doors and holding one open for Heathcliff and the cart he was pushing. "We have been discussing the nutritional needs of: bird-kids."

"And how'd that go?" Hiro asked.

"Swimmingly, Master Hiro," Heathcliff said, pulling off snooty without being condescending. "Their current breakfast now has only natural sugar, with foods such as oatmeal to keep them full."

"Ah. I don't think the kids will be using spoons, for the record."

"We have already discussed that issue," Heathcliff said, as Fred picked up what looked like a stuffed donut, considered it—bit into it.

"Hmm…hmm…it's like…pancakes, and oatmeal, and fruit…dude, it's like all of breakfast stuffed into a pancake-flavored donut!"

Nox's head whipped around at pancake—squawked when he spotted the cart, prompting the others to look—

Fred and Hiro both shrieked and dove for cover as the bird-kids stampeded for the cart—blinked in surprise when they collectively skidded to a halt, Webby flopping down and getting Violet on her, Nox sitting down and having Lena bump into his back.

Why they did this became clear when Hiro spotted Fred's mother, stepping out to stand next to Heathcliff and fixing the bird-kids with a stern look.

"Sit," she ordered, pointing at the short table and low patio chairs next to the wall-mounted TV—the bird-kids scrambled to do so, looked at her once they did. "Stay. Heathcliff will bring your food to you. Remember what I said last night."

"Is there any way for like, non-mothers to do this?" Hiro asked her, dusting himself off and totally baffled by the bird-kids behaving themselves.

"All attempts to mass-produce this power have failed," she told him. "General consensus agrees it's for the best."

"It's always mondo dangerous to try to duplicate superpowers anyway," Fred said, nodding sagely.

Hiro wasn't sure how to respond to that, opted to watch as Heathcliff set the table for the bird-kids—

"No," Violet said, when he tried to distribute the milkshakes, waving a hand at him. "No mine want-want-want—"

"Ah-hem," Fred's mother noised sternly, causing Violet to subside a little—or at least wait until Heathcliff was done before trying to swap her milk with Webby's milkshake. Lena stopped her quickly with a sharp whistle and headshake.

"Now I expect you to behave yourselves and eat with some decorum," she told them. "Don't make me have to sit out here."

"Can we at least get a recording?" Gogo asked, watching as the kids started nibbling daintily on their breakfast.

"That won't work—we tried," Fred's mother told her. "You kids eat some breakfast too."

"Thanks, Madre," Fred said, hugging her—she patted his face before going back in.

The moment Violet was certain she was gone, she whistled at Webby, who swapped her milkshake with Violet's milk.

"Seriously?" Hiro asked, eyebrow askew—more so when Webby bounced up and tried to drag him over to their table. "No wait no—"

"'Dashi-Hiro yes," she insisted, adding chirps and warbles and other bird vocalizations he couldn't make heads nor tails of. Nox looked up at him, down at his plate, back up at Hiro—offered him one of his breakfast buns.

"Aw gee sorry, but I was going to eat at the big kids' table, and I really don't want to pass on that," Hiro said, pointing at where Heathcliff was setting out plates for the team. Webby looked—

Lena leaped to tackle her with a barked "NO!", causing Nox to roll back in startlement, knocking Hiro over—

Violet took this opportunity to steal Lena and Nox's milkshakes, was busily sucking one down when Nox recovered, hissed when he squawked at her—

And then squeaked and slapped a hand to her head, face screwed up in pain.

"Oh yeah no sorry little dudette forgot to warn you about the subtle art of drinking cold things through straws," Fred said, coming over with his own milkshake. "See, that what you're feeling is called a brain freeze—push your tongue against the roof of your mouth, it'll pass."

"Pretty sure that doesn't work, Fred," Gogo said.

"A: brain freeze, is caused by rapidly ingesting cold food," Baymax supplied, a finger up before popping up a diagram on his chest. "The rapid consumption of cold food constricts the blood vessels around the: trigeminal nerve, which then causes the pain associated with a brain freeze. Massaging the back of the neck can speed recovery from a: brain freeze."

"Mnnh," Violet noised, rubbing her head—looked up at Fred, waved him down—he leaned closer, curious—

And she swapped out her empty milkshake for his.

"Not cool, my dudette," Fred stated, looking at the empty cup. "Can I at least swap out one of those?"

"No," she said, pausing long enough in her eager bid to apparently drink everything remotely sugary available to shake her head. Considered before handing him a breakfast bun.

"Eh, I'll take it," Fred decided, accepting the bun. "It helps that these are totally tasty."

"Mine," Nox said, pointing at one of the milkshakes.

"No," Violet said—screeched back when he screeched at her.

"Will I be needing to report your behavior to Madame Fredrickson?" Heathcliff asked as he pushed the cart back into the house—he was quickly met with a chorus of no-no-no-nos. "Very good. Enjoy your meal."

"So I really feel the need to ask why all my super-surreal moments end up happening at Fred's house," Wasabi said, hands on his hips and a confused look on his face.

"Some things in life are mysteries," Hiro decided, trying to get up—was stopped by Nox hooking his hand in Hiro's hoodie. "Remember what I said about being allowed to eat at the big kids' table?"

"No," Nox said decisively.

"Pretty sure I said something about it."

"Here—we can all eat over here," Honey Lemon said, grabbing her breakfast and coming over to sit in one of the patio chairs. The others followed suit, Baymax handing Hiro his breakfast.

"Thanks, Baymax," Hiro said, accepting it before having to angle it away from a curious Nox. Apologized for speeding through grace and keeping an eye open while doing so, opened both and had to smother the small thrill of panic at seeing that particular shade of blue eyes watching him intently.

"My breakfast," Hiro told him. "And tell Violet to leave my milkshake alone."

"No," Violet said, working on a third one. And then planting a hand between the remaining milkshakes and Lena's questing hand. "No." Shove her plate at Lena instead.

"Little dude and dudettes, chill a bit and watch the TV instead," Fred suggested, turning up the volume a little. Webby chirped—started squawking animatedly when the show mentioned Huey, Dewey and Louie.

"I feel like that backfired," Hiro said, moving a hand to block Nox's questing for his breakfast. "No. Eat your own." And then trying to shove the tail he flipped onto Hiro's legs back off. "Do you mind?"

"No," Nox said, flipping his tail back where he had it.

"Help."

"Guard my breakfast," Gogo said, shoving it at Wasabi before getting up.

"Okay, where are you—oh no help," Wasabi squeaked, flinching away from Lena's attention—"HEY!"

"Mine," Violet said, taking Wasabi's milkshake back to her seat.

"Okay not that I want it back but that was mine and no wait you have your own breakfast leave mine alone—"

"Here," Gogo said, planting a chair behind Hiro. "And you," she said to Webby. "Don't make me get Fred's mom back out here."

Webby quickly sat back down, looked at her empty plate and whistled bereftly.

"Aw—here dudette, have my breakfast," Fred said, putting his plate on the table. "I can get something else—OOF the flying hug-tackle we talked about this."

Webby purred before letting go and focusing her attention on the breakfast formerly known as Fred's. Lena watched a moment, turned her attention to Honey Lemon.

"Honey Lemon, no," Gogo ordered. "You're being emotionally manipulated—Honey Lemon."

"But she's so cute," Honey Lemon protested over Lena's purring.

"Sure. The Mayoi were cute too, and we saw how that went."

"Except I'm pretty sure these guys aren't going to, you know, mutate and grow to kaiju proportions," Fred offered. "That we know of. My dudette, I don't have any more."

Webby whistled, immediately moved on to Wasabi.

"Uh, no," Wasabi said, shrinking back in his seat and gesturing to the TV. "Watch the TV, watch the TV please no not on my lap I HAVE TO WORK UP TO THESE THINGS OKAY?"

"Don't give this to anyone," Gogo said, handing her breakfast to Honey Lemon before helping peel Webby off of Wasabi.

"You know what? Let's not do this again," Hiro decided, having finally managed to combine not losing his breakfast with getting Nox's tail off his legs and getting into the seat Gogo had dragged over. And then ignoring Nox's disgruntled look—"No wait my chair chairs are for one person at a time okay?"

"That might be a good idea," Honey Lemon agreed—looked at Lena looking at her. "No, this is Gogo's."

Lena huffed, chirped at Violet walking away with another milkshake—

"Hey wait a minute!" Honey Lemon yelped, looking at where her drink had been. "That was mine!"

"Hey!" Gogo barked, quickly lifting her plate from Honey Lemon's grasp and away from Lena—not fast enough to keep from losing one of the breakfast buns. "Do you mind?"

"Sorry."

"Not you her."

"Fwee," Lena noised, already with half of the breakfast bun gone.

"Okay no wait so…my dudette come on I mean look," Fred said, sitting crosslegged at the table. "See? Down here's where it's at you can play with Wasabi after he finishes his breakfast."

"No you can't," Wasabi said, right before he leaned too far and ended up flipping onto the floor—his breakfast quickly disappeared. "Okay I second Hiro's motion this is not working."

"Glad we're in agreement BAYMAX!" Hiro yelped, lifting his plate away—finally fell to temptation and flung a breakfast bun, inducing Nox to chase after it—

And in those few seconds of being unattended, his milkshake became Violet's milkshake. "HEY!"

"Mine," Violet said, already busily sucking it down.

"My dudette we really need to cover the concept of sharing," Fred said, helping Wasabi up.

"No."

"Pretty sure we do. Actually pretty sure we need to go over the whole ten-step program again these are important points."

"Is personal space on the list?" Hiro asked, once again having to defend against Nox climbing back in the chair—which ended with him losing the rest of his breakfast to Lena. "Hey that's—forget it," he sighed, sagging and accepting the inevitable.

"'Dashi-Hiro," Nox purred, hugging him.

"Don't 'Dashi-Hiro me I have no breakfast because of you."

"Would it kill you all to woman up and keep your breakfast?" Gogo asked, sipping her milkshake.

"Now wait a minute!" Wasabi yelped, pointing at her after dancing away from Webby. "I lost my milkshake holding your breakfast!"

"And I pulled a bird-kid off you, so I think we're even."

"We are not even I haven't had breakfast okay?"

"Breakfast: is the most important meal of the day, as it encourages a healthy metabolism," Baymax offered. "Skipping breakfast can result in fatigue and heart problems."

"See?" Hiro asked, trying to squirm free. "You're negatively impacting my health."

"Nuh," Nox noised, sounding like he was trying to fall asleep. Which made him the best-behaved bird-kid at this point, considering the other three were now focused on Gogo.

"Ugh, fine!" she barked finally, plonking her breakfast on the short table. "I'll pick something up on the way to school."

Dead silence for several beats.

Hiro was pretty sure that the bird-kids learned several words that they shouldn't have and that he specifically would have to be explaining where he heard his contribution (Good Luck Alley), but that was a preferable problem to having to explain to Professor Granville just why they were late—he, at least, was certain he wouldn't be able to fluff by with no concrete excuse two days in a row.

Of course, he was also the one who needed the most help escaping considering he had a bird-kid of equal size clinging onto him and squawking no-no-no when he realized Hiro's intent—had to yell for Baymax to intercept, Fred yelled for Mini-Max's assist, managed to finally escape through the garage since it would hold up better than the French doors, managed to slam the door and lock it right as the first bird-kid slammed against it, scratching and whining.

"We're sorry!" Honey Lemon called through the door Fred was currently sagging against. "We have school!"

"Well, we do," Gogo said, looking pointedly at Fred.

"Excuse you, I go to SFU," Fred countered, pointing at her.

"Campus?"

Fred started to answer—stopped, conceded her point. "Mixed, but I'll let you have the win. Come on, I'll get the door for you guys."

The door leading into the house opened before they got even with the limo. "Fredrick, maybe your friends would like to freshen up first."

"Um, thanks, Mrs. Fredrickson," Hiro started. "But we're kind of late—"

So Hiro wasn't entirely certain that Mrs. Fredrickson didn't have some sort of mom-related superpower, considering she stopped him just as solidly with one hand raised as she did with the bird-kids. "Heathcliff can take you when you're done, you'll cause less of a stir showing up in a limo five minutes late than you will on time and looking like you wrestled a bear."

Considering Honey Lemon just gingerly picked a leaf out of Hiro's hair…."Augh okay fine."

And considering he scared himself upon spotting his reflection in the mirror, Mrs. Fredrickson's worries were justified. Strip to jump in the shower, deciding to shelve the question of just why those clothes looked like they'd be a perfect fit—

Pause at something flittering down, knocked loose by him taking his shirt off. Dark, faint hints of color in the light…one of Nox's feathers.

The thinnest of ideas slipped into his mind just then—pick the feather up, put it on the new clothes, speed through returning his appearance to civilized human being, stuff the feather into the pocket of the SFIT jacket he tugged on over the rest of the clothes before running out the door.

Heathcliff intercepted the bundle of dirty laundry before Hiro could get too far. "You may retrieve these after school, Master Hiro," he said. "The others are waiting in the car out front."

"Uh, yeah—th-thanks, Heathcliff!" Hiro said, bolting for the front doors and running down the steps, barely noting his moped locked into a slot near the garage (he had totally blanked on it…yesterday morning? It felt like weeks ago). Jump through the door Fred slid open—

His friends already inside a freshly-cleaned limo was secondary notice to a breakfast spread laid out for them inside—without bird-kids trying to steal it.

"Aw man, excellent," Hiro said, grinning.


The moment the others were gone, panic started to set in.

Violet was quick to agree with Webby, splitting up flock-flight was no-no-no bad-bad-no good-bad splitting up was what happened to 'Dashi and Nox and 'Kase and Grump and was what happened to Violet and Webby and Lena splitting up was BAD WHY WERE THEY LEAVING US!?

Nox wailed don't know, they kept doing this and if that really WAS 'Dashi's-Hiro then that was BAD because he was pretty sure that 'Dashi was looking for 'Dashi's-Hiro and they should all stick together because then 'Dashi would find ALL of them—

Lena whistled hard, pointed out that they weren't sure this was 'Dashi's-Hiro it could be they were overreacting and shedding feathers over nothing and this was fake-nest but it was safe-nest so they should stay there was nothing like the horrible-shrieking-thing or the big BOOMs that the bad-forest had and they could tell where north was and there was food they should wait here 'Dashi was looking for them 'Dashi would find them they should stay right here and be safe.

Violet had to point out that they didn't know if the others were safe, maybe they should be looking—Nox pointed out that there were bad-things out there and that's why he was separated from 'Dashi with broken-wing and it took ages and ages and ages before they were all argued out on the how and why and wherefore and need-to want-to and AUGH.

They broke away, hunched down, considering—Violet pulled over one of the milkshake from breakfast which had her convinced that Fwah-nest was good-nest (she didn't care, she agreed with Nox Fwah was better-name), sucked on it while she thought. If this was 'Dashi's-Hiro, then where were feathers where was wings and tail?

She whistled this question at Nox—surely he had thought of this.

Nox squawked and warbled and chattered how his last night with 'Dashi had gone, how 'Dashi had found bad-bad-no good poison that he said took wings and feathers and tail and how Nox thought that 'Dashi's-Hiro had been given some and that's why he didn't look like them because he SHOULD because I ever tell you you remind me of my little brother Hiro? That the reason 'Dashi had gone after the bad-no good-poison was to make it so that 'Dashi's-Hiro was fixed and nobody else had to worry about wings being stolen—

Violet shivered, ran over to Lena, squashed herself under the open wing ready and expecting, shivered again to loose tension as the wing tightened around her—that was terrible—losing wings losing tail losing feathers? Looking flat-faced and bald all over, back paws stuck in weird things and no claws just useless nubs? It was all AWFUL.

Nox added he thought the no-good-bad poison also stole understanding, and that was why 'Dashi's-Hiro didn't know what they were saying—Violet put a paw over an ear and closed her eyes, begging him to stop she didn't want bad-dreams.

Nox trembled at that, enough that Lena lifted her other wing to let him dodge under and squish against her side—Webby wrung her front paws, beak grinding, before dashing to Lena's arms with a meek, hugging her tight and warbling that she hated that idea that was bad-bad-no good-bad and maybe that's why 'Dashi's-Hiro kept leaving because he knew fly and without wings it was painful thinking about it?

That could be it—Nox agreed that could definitely be it it had been ages and ages since his wing was broken and he missed flying he missed flying like he missed 'Dashi it was awful—

Violet sucked on the milkshake again, thinking—Lena chirped share?

"No," she said, hugging the milkshake to her—she had never been this full-happy-full and Lena had a point there this fake-nest was safe-nest and she had never felt so good everything in her body was telling her liquid-sweet-food was good was BEST and for once she felt GOOD she didn't feel bleh or blah or tired she felt like she could fly on her own for once and outrun a hundred howling-screaming-things she felt like she could roll cougar like Grump did—

Wait.

Violet chirped idea-listen-idea—outline a plan of two being distract while other two went and found 'Dashi's-Hiro and brought him back—it was safe here so 'Dashi's-Hiro should really be here it wasn't that hard a concept—

Lena pointed out that that would be splitting up, Nox sighed and muttered that he'd be one of the stay and distract because he couldn't fly—

Webby chirped yes-challenge-yes.

Violet warbled yes-me too-yes, wiggled out from under Lena's wing, took one last big drink of milkshake before handing it to Lena and going fine-okay-share

Lena looked worried, Nox peeking out from under her wing, but Webby was stretching her wings Webby was looking ready they were going to go find 'Dashi's-Hiro and bring him back and Violet was feeling so good-okay-good that she was certain she'd find everybody and bring them back—

Nox chirped, tossed his head, leading them into fake-woods and pointing up at a tree that grew close to wall, saying to climb out that way and then fly—Lena warbling worry and Violet no Violet stay I go-me you-stay—

Violet squawked, insisted yes-I go-yes—hugged Nox and Lena after Webby did, scurried up the tree after Webby, barking and shrieking challenge and yes-yes I can do this YES—

Webby was standing on top of wall, broad and flat but not like cliff it was only a few paces wide not even a good bound—flapped her wings, whistled that it would be good jump to start a glide it'd have them high enough to start flapping without having to power straight up—

Violet held up a paw, not wanting suggestions that she take it easy—tail thrashing, energy thrumming through her, for once not feeling bleh-blah-tired

She was not being carried today—today she was flying.

Stretch her wings, stretch as far as she could—Webby whistled question, to which Violet barked CAN-FLY-CAN—

Webby started warbling about how to fly, up-down-flap—Violet let the information wash over her, digging down deep into herself and what her body told her was flying—claws gripped the ground, scraping weirdly wall was weird—

Knees bend, wingtips up—

Shot into the air—

Her wings were going THRUM and buzz and fast and this wasn't the weird sluggish flaps she had tried before this was good this was right she was FLYING—

Webby shrieked in surprise and friend-triumph, launched into the air after her—Violet tried several long lazy loops and turns—no, no lazy—she was built for speed she wasn't built to be bleh-blah-tired all the time or carried or terrified or frustrated because she couldn't keep up—

She could feel it, feel it through the buzzing in her bones—she was fast.

Zip up and down the broad trails and paths, dodging neatly around the huge metal things, mouth open, tasting the air, deep breaths to scent where 'Dashi's-Hiro had gone—caught a scent—zipped to Webby, winging behind her, whistled and pointed follow me!

More loops and zipping at every crossroads, sniffing and scenting and letting Webby catch up—for once she was the fast one, she was the one having to slow down for someone else, and she couldn't help the excited shrieks and screams of triumph she was the fast one she didn't have slow-bleh-blah-tired anymore—

Webby whistled excited-you-yes-good, question of where 'Dashi-Hiro where? Sniff—fly—

The metal monsters were fast but she was faster, able to catch the scent, to direct and zip and fly, Webby staying up high as she zipped around low for the scent and startled all the strange no-feathers a whole place full of no-feathers—keep pace with Webby for a bit, ponder if there was a place of all feathered-like-them if there was a place full of no-feathers and then where—follow scent again—

Eventually it led to a place that felt like Fwah-nest but not quite—lots of green, trees and bushes and field, nests surrounding it, open places for landing—they touched down on a large flat piece of hard-ground that had no give and made their claws scratch weirdly, sniff around for 'Dashi's-Hiro's scent, ignoring the looks they were getting from the no-feathers the no-feathers were confused but not attack-grr-rarr so she wasn't going to worry about it just yet—

Run up an incline that was weird and made of the same no-give material, following a scent and chirping and whistling—run smack into something clear and flat.

Webby put her paws against it, followed it first one way and then the other, whistling confusion and what-what-what-why-why-why—Violet bounced against it, chattered aggravation, backed up and looked at the nest where the 'Dashi's-Hiro scent led—

Whistled at Webby and pointed at a cave opening in the cliff-like face of it.

Webby cheered, patted her, flapped up hard—squawked when Violet was still able to make it to the cave opening before her. Violet cheered win, ducked into the cave.

Inside the cave was strange—there were lots of things to look at and play with and perhaps they ought to but maybe they should find 'Dashi's-Hiro first—tempting—that looked shiny and that looked interesting and her claws were itching she wanted to grab things and test them she wanted to scratch at the ground the ground was catching her claws and had some give but only in one spot the rest was tk-tk-tk and maybe the one spot was like moss

Webby tested the spot, went scratch-scratch-scratch, reported that yes, it was good to scratch here, all the things here were tempting but they had to find 'Dashi's-Hiro first so if 'Dashi found them he'd know to go back to the Fwah-nest they needed to be all together—

Sniff around the cave—found a spot by the far wall, opposite the cave opening, where air wafted through a space near the ground—sniff at it, sniff at the odd spot on the wall—paw at it, paw at a glowy thing next to the spot—

Jump back in surprise and with SQUAWK when the odd spot sucked into the wall, revealing another cave.

Webby whistled interest, went to the opening and stuck her head through, warbled to Violet that this was new this was different—

Violet looked—reported no, this was familiar.

She hated to remember the bad-place as much as the rest of them, but something about this place reminded her of the bad-place, something about the layout—she couldn't reconcile the two images, one was bad-bad-no good-bad and the other was new and this one didn't smell like the other and she wasn't sure and this was confusing and she didn't like it.

Webby suddenly gasped thought—shared a rapidly spiraling theory that built off of Nox's, that 'Dashi's-Hiro was given the bad-no good poison and he had to come here to get more doses—maybe because if he didn't he'd go back to normal! And he didn't know that this was bad-bad-no good-bad because he had been taught that it was good, like how they had been taught to expect certain things—

Violet clamped Webby's beak shut—she didn't want to remember any more of the bad-place than she had to, didn't want to remember the things she had done to them—the feather plucking, the poking, the prodding, the pain—she wanted to remember nothing of that place, wanted to pretend that her life had started the second one of the olders grabbed her and jumped out of the window to freedom.

She didn't get to do that so long as they were here.

Hiss at Webby to help find, desire to explore everything about this place gone now, sniff at the air, gingerly pad down the hall, close to the wall, toes curled up so their claws didn't go tk-tk-tk on the floor.

They had 'Dashi's-Hiro to find.