Disclaimer: Sad-posting hours ahead
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It was a very gloomy day aboard the Octopod. It was rainy on the surface, no one was in a good mood, and everything seemed a little gray.
Down in the hallway, Kitsune entered the lab to check up on her patient. "Wake up, sweet love," she whispered. "Are you feeling any different?"
Shellington briefly looked up at her, then huddled back into his blanket cocoon. His eyes were completely blank; the lights were on, but no one was home. Between his bleary vision, bubbling stomach, and broken heart, he didn't know which was the worst.
"I guess not," said Kitsune. "Well, we've contacted your family about what's happened, and they're wishing you well." What she didn't tell him was how hard it was to make that call. She had been instructed that in the event that an Octonaut experiences a major medical emergency, they were to inform whoever was listed as their emergency contact in their medical records. She swore that she could hear poor Pearl crying on the other end. Shellington's face fell, and he hid his face underneath the pillow.
"Oh, now, please look up at me," said Kitsune. "I have to take your temperature."
Shellington would not budge. He sounded as is he was crying.
"Or not…never mind." Kitsune sighed and left the lab.
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In the library, Professor Inkling was showing Peso and Deborah an index of different types of octopi when Kitsune entered the room and slumped into a chair.
"What's wrong?" Deborah asked.
"This job is very difficult sometimes," said Kitsune. "Yesterday, when we went to fetch Sweetpea and Shellington, I felt very motivated, like nothing could get in my way. But now it's worn off, and I feel like I wouldn't be able to do it."
"Oh, Kitsune," said Peso, "a medic's job can be really hard sometimes. But we were very impressed by your work yesterday. Even Captain Barnacles was telling me about how efficient you were."
"That's very sweet," said Kitsune, "but I wish I could be like that all the time."
"Almost everyone feels like they're not good enough at their job every once in a while," said Professor Inkling.
Peso nodded. "And full disclosure; I feel like that almost every day. But you've done some amazing work for us, and haven't let me down once."
"Yeah," cooed Deborah. "I'm so grateful that you were there to help my sweet kelp cake."
The others stared at her. "Your sweet kelp cake?"
Realizing that she had said that out loud, Deborah giggled and blushed, hiding her face in her hooves.
"Nevertheless, we don't mind that you're not perfect," said Professor Inkling. "We care that you're diligent, hard-working, and above all, kind."
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Out in the Launch Bay, the rest of the crew was preparing a GUP to go back into the kelp forest. Captain Barnacles shot Kwazii a concerned glance; he hadn't said a word since last night. It was very eerie to not hear his voice for so long.
"Tweak, open the Octo-Hatch." Tweak opened the Octo-Hatch, and the GUP-C exited the Octopod with Kwazii, Dashi, and Elekai in tow.
"I hope I can at least get some nice photos," said Dashi. She had been keeping her head up high during the predicament. She exited the GUP with the two men not far behind her and swam into the kelp. She was preparing to take a photo when she noticed the kelp was looking at her. Upon closer inspection, she realized that it was a mother kelp fish.
"Hello," said Dashi. "I didn't see you there."
"Hello," said the kelp fish. "I'm Gigi."
"Would you like to be in my photos?"
"Okay," said Gigi. She hid in the kelp with only her head poking out, as if she was playing peekaboo. Dashi snapped a picture.
"It looks perfect," said Dashi. Just then, she could hear fits of giggling coming from below her. Down in the sand on the sea floor, a group of baby kelp fish were flitting about.
"Those are my young," said Gigi. "I've been trying to teach them to camouflage, but they're not particularly interested."
"I think I can help you with that," said Kwazii in a noticeably subdued voice. He swam down to the baby fish, with Dashi, Elekai, and Gigi trailing behind.
"Hold on, I remember you," said Gigi. "You got your tiger-looking ship stuck in the kelp when I was a kid."
"Yeah, that was me," said Kwazii, chuckling a bit.
"Kids?" Gigi got her children's attention.
"Aw, mum, are we having another camouflage lesson?" The biggest one griped.
"You have to learn," said Gigi. "These big guys are going to help you."
The young fish grumbled, but got into order.
"What exactly is your plan?" Elekai asked Kwazii.
"Hide an' seek," said Kwazii. "All li'l kids love hide an' seek." He turned to the little fish. "You know how to play?"
The little fish all shook their heads.
"You hide in the kelp, and I come find you." Kwazii covered his bare eye and turned his back. "One, two, three…"
The little fish immediately caught on and swam into the kelp to hide.
"..eighteen, nineteen, twenty." Kwazii turned back around. The little fish were all hidden. He nudged his way into the maze of kelp. All he could see was a sea of green. He squinted, looking for a pair of black eyes somewhere, anywhere.
"I don't know if I've ever seen you around before," said Gigi to Dashi and Elekai.
"We're visiting," said Dashi.
"We're here to gather information about the creatures who live here," said Elekai. "I will admit we are a bit behind on that."
"Why?" Gigi was curious.
Dashi shot Elekai a stern "don't elaborate" look. "Uh…personal issues."
In the kelp, Kwazii heard laughter. He pushed back a strand of kelp and found the first little fish. The little fish darted out and back to his mother.
"That one's Varech," said Gigi.
Kwazii smiled. This was kind of fun. He continued to search.
"I'm the fastest," said Varech to Elekai. "I'm super cool."
Back in the forest, Kwazii couldn't help feeling that something was following him. He shrugged it off and continued through the tangled mess of kelp. He nudged a bit of kelp aside, and one small bit remained in place. It was the second little fish!
"Aw, he got me." The second fish pouted.
Kwazii chuckled. "You're a cute li'l nipper."
"That's where I got my name; Nipper."
Kwazii chuckled. "I know someone whose name is Nipper."
Nipper looked behind Kwazii and snickered.
"What are ya laughin' about? Have I got catnip in my whiskers?" Kwazii flicked his head side to side, trying to figure out what Nipper was laughing at. He finally looked behind and saw what was so funny; the third little fish was behind him, making funny faces.
"Oh, Frieda!" The little fish laughed and chased each other around Kwazii's helmet. Kwazii just laughed. He brought them out to Gigi with a big grin.
"That was great," said Frieda. "I love playing hide and-"
"Coming through!"
A shovelnose guitarfish came rushing through the kelp, breezing past the Octonauts and the kelp fish. Gigi went flying and crashed into a rock. She yelled in pain.
The Octonauts swam over to her. "What's happened?"
Gigi looked up. She was majorly bruised. They all winced. Elekai put in a call to the Octopod. "Elekai to sick bay."
"Go ahead, Elekai." Peso responded.
"This kelp fish is injured badly. We need your help."
"We'll be there soon," said Peso. He turned to Kitsune. "Do you feel up for it?"
"Me?" Kitsune was taken aback. "B-but…I, uh…I'm supposed to be looking after Shellington."
"You can do it," said Peso. "All you have to do is do your best. I'll handle Shellington."
Kitsune shivered a bit, but took a deep breath and readied herself. "Okay. Here I go."
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Kitsune brought the GUP-E out into the kelp forest. She exited the GUP with a medical bag. "Where's the patient?"
"Here she is." The others brought Gigi forward.
Kitsune looked her over. "Let me bandage that up." She took out a roll of bandages and patched up Gigi's injury.
"Ooh, that feels so much better," said Gigi.
Kitsune sighed with relief. She had done it.
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Back at the Octopod, Kitsune returned to the sick bay. "I did it!"
"Fantastic!" Peso crowed. "I knew you could do it."
Kitsune gave a hearty sigh. "Has anything happened since I left?"
"I've got Shellington speaking again," said Peso. "He's very weak." He handed Kitsune a bottle of medicine. "I'd like it if you gave him a spoonful of this."
Kitsune nodded and went to the lab. Shellington was lightly napping.
Kitsune nudged him awake. "Wake up, love…"
Shellington stirred and opened his eyes. They were a little less dull than they had been in the morning.
"I need you to take your medicine." Kitsune poured out a spoonful. Shellington sighed, but sat up and took his medicine.
"There we are," said Kitsune. "That should get you through the night. Now, will you let me take your temperature?"
"Mmhmm." Shellington let her pop the thermometer into his mouth. They waited for a moment, and the thermometer beeped.
"38.6. Still a bit high." Kitsune put her hand on Shellington's forehead. "Are you getting any other symptoms? Sore throat? Headache?"
Shellington shook his head. "I just feel like a waterfall will come out of my mouth at any given moment."
Kitsune pet his fur. "I promise we're doing everything we can to help you, sweet. It's best you get some rest now."
Shellington nodded, and laid back down to go back to sleep. Kitsune left the room feeling on top of the world, where she ran into Deborah.
"I need to ask a favour," said Deborah.
"What is it?" Kitsune asked.
Deborah handed Kitsune her plush toy of Imogen. "I need you to give this to Shellington...I think he needs it more than I do."
Kitsune looked at the plush toy, and back up at Deborah's pleading eyes. She turned back into the lab and slipped the plush into Shellington's arms. He was a bit confused, but hugged it once he figured out what was happening.
"Did he like it?" Deborah asked when Kitsune came back out.
"I think so," said Kitsune.
Deborah beamed. She was happy that she had made her mentor feel better.
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Information about the kelp fish taken from Monterey Bay Aquarium.