"What will Captain Kalus think?!" Hatch twitched his pinchers nervously.
"I don't care what Kalus thinks!" Sever snapped looking back at the humans face, "I couldn't leave him out there even if I wanted to."
Stanford's hair had fallen due to the rain, Sever thought his limp "fins" was a sign that his condition was bad. They sagged along his pale face, he hardly looked himself without them. He was so quiet he nearly looked dead but the heaving of his chest kept Sever at ease.
"What do the humans eat?" Sever asked, he never really thought about it until now but he knew the human would need sustainments to survive.
"Oh uh…I believe they eat fruit and meats." Hatch said proudly, "I shall fetch some!" He then hurried away running into Krocomoto,
"Watch where you are going pest!" He warned him before entering Sever's tent. "You did take the human, you let the enemy sleep comfortably."
"He is not asleep, he was knocked out by the fierce storm!" Sever explained as he sat beside Stanford and took a warm cloth to his head. "His body is cold humans are suppose to be warm."
"My ancestors were closest with humans, I know what he needs." Krocomoto grabbed Stanfords mouth and separated his lips.
"Be careful with him Krocomoto!" Krocomoto looked back at Sever snarling at him viciously.
"…his throat is swollen, his eyes expel water, his skin is clammy he has what the humans refer to as a cold." Krocomoto explained, "his chest is probably also in pain. The steam rocks will help him."
Krocomoto bought warm rocks and placed them upon his chest after they peeled the shock suit and the shirt underneath it off, the human's chest bared two long scars under his chest.
"When did he get these?" Krocomoto asked
"I don't know, they must be his battle scars." Sever figured,
Hatch returned with a bowl of food, and placed it at the end of his bed before using his pinchers to pull up Stanford's blanket to his neck. That night the three took turns keeping watch over the human, while the other two would sleep. Eventually all three fell asleep within in the tent, Stanford slept on the bed while the three cuddled on the floor. When morning came the sky was warm and sunny, like the storm had never even happened. Sever noticed the human's face began to twist in pain. He asked Hatch what might be wrong but no one could provide answers. Little did they know Stanford was deep in sleep, dreaming of something that happened long ago when the boy was only fourteen years old. He was on the couch in the family's den watching cartoons and eating cereal with almond milk. His stuffed dog sat next to him, he talked to the toy like it would answer back. That's when Stanford's father Sylvester Ivan Rhodes the third entered the room and stood by the tv. He looked at what he was watching and then at the teenager. His face seemed annoyed, Stanford tried to ignore this as he watched his show.
"Stella…Stanford whatever you want to be called- look at me." The boy obeyed his father looking away from the tv, "you are far too old to be watching this show."
"but I like it." Stanford said quietly.
"Your a teenager now. You shouldn't be playing with these silly toys and watching kids shows." His father turned the tv off and stepped towards his son.
"….I'm sorry." Stanford looked down at the little stuffed dog he had propped up beside him.
His father suddenly grabbed the toy, Stanford yelped in surprise begging him to let his toy go. "You need to learn to grow up! No one's gonna baby you in the real world!"
"No! Please! Don't get rid of Kipper!" He begged trying to grab it from his father, Stanford's father shoved him to the ground.
"Look at you your practically in tears over this thing." His father griped before ripping Kipper's head off with his hand.
"NOOOO!!" Stanford sobbed as he watched him rip his toy to pieces. Fluff and bits of of fur scattered the floor. His father snapped at one of the servants to clean the mess. He then placed a hand on Stanford's head as he laid on the floor with his head tucked into his arm crying hysterically "you'll understand why I had to do that when your older."
Stanford's eyes shot open, his body tensed up as he sat up. Tears formed in the corners of his eyes, "his eyes are running even more Krocomoto, it did not work!"
"…what's going on?! Where am I? Have I been taken prisoner?!" Stanford asked holding his legs defensively,
"Now that you are awake you must eat!" Hatch stepped forward and grabbed a piece of fruit handing it out to him,
Stanford hesitated but took it from his pincher, it looked like something like an apple mixed with a dragon fruit. It for in his palm, and stared at it for a moment. Krocomoto, Sever and Hatch stared at him, Hatch moved the hand holding the fruit to Stanford's lips. He took a small bite, it was quite sweet tasted a bit like a peach. Hatch seemed pleased with himself, Krocomoto brought a bowl of liquid bringing it to his mouth. Stanford feared the worst but when he drank it, it was simply water. The vandals were taking care of him like he was some kind of pet to them, then he remembered back when had helped Sever. Was he just trying to return the favor? 'But it was my fault he was hurt in the first place' Stanford thought as he stared back at the shark. He tried to stand up and all three vandals trying to pressure him into sitting back down.
"NnO!" Hatch said gently pushing him like he was scolding him,
Stanford huffed crossing his arms, he was a grown man he could take care of himself. Although it was rather sweet they seemingly cared so much, he reached out his hand to Sever who jumped slightly. Stanford gently touched his nose and rubbed the top softly. He wasn't sure what the human was doing but he enjoyed the sensation.
"What is this?" Sever questioned,
"it's a pet. We use it make animals on Earth happy. Although I've never pet a shark before." Stanford smiled before Hatch moved Sever out of the way.
"Me next! Me next!" He demanded, Stanford pet the bugs forehead and scratched between his antennae making them fall to either side in bliss.
Krocomoto was the most hesitant but he crawled forward and leaned his head down. The humans warm hands felt good on his scales. It was admittedly very soothing. As he was scratching Krocomoto's chin he got a call from his watch.
"Stanford! Do you copy?! Stanford!!" That was vert's voice, he picked up his watch from the floor. "Yes! I'm here!"
"Where are you buddy?! I'm coming to get you!!" Vert sighed in relief,
Stanford looked at his new friends and then at the watch. "I'll meet up with you just outside of the vandal base."
"The vandal base?! What you guys having a sleepover or something?!" He laughed,
"….something like that. See you in a bit." Stanford put his shirt back on and Sever helped zip the back of his suit. "Thank you Sever…mate!"
"Right back at you mate!" The shark said petting the top of his head.
Maybe he hadn't been cursed, he was only a boy after all he thought to himself as he waved back at his new friends ready to be reunited with his team.