The next day, after I am injured, I am still resting. My burns are really hurting. At Taisley, mom, and dad's suggestion, we stay in a cave in the rocks. I'm in so much pain. I can't even move! When I first woke up this morning, almost instantly, I started crying again for the pain. I'm glad that my family is here to comfort me. I may not like it when they see me cry, but I don't want to be alone.
This time is no different. I was asleep again for a few hours. When I wake from that nap, I am in shock over the amount of pain that I have to endure. I whimper and squirm. I feel a paw stroke my forehead. I turn my head slightly. I see Taisley and my parents next to me. It is my father's paw on my forehead. I try to speak, only to gasp when the pain intensifies. "Don't worry, Buck. Yer no' alone. Th' pain will go away. I promise," dad tries to soothe me.
"But dad, 't 'urts…so much…" I wail when I'm finally able to speak. I'm thankful that the kits are asleep. I don't want them to see me as weak. I want them to always picture me as a strong father.
"I know 't 'urts. Just hush an' at least try ta get some more sleep," dad strokes my forehead.
I keep whimpering and squirming from the pain. I can feel the tears pricking my eye. I clench my eye shut, trying to keep myself from crying. I open my eye when I feel dad brush a paw on my cheek near my eye. I look into dad's face. I can see a worried look in his eyes. "Go ahead an' cry, Buck. It's fine. We won't laugh at ya," dad tries to soothe me.
I don't need a second invitation. I begin to cry, whimpering at first. My whimpers turn into yowls as I begin sobbing. Dad raises me up and holds me in his arms. I bury my face into dad's fur as I continue to cry. I feel dad stroking my back, pulling me closer when I begin to sob louder.
After a while, I stop crying. I sniffle and wipe my eye free of the tears. I look up at my family, my ears pressed against my head. "Thanks," I mumble. I look down, my cheeks turning red. I'm embarrassed over crying in front of my family.
Dad can clearly see the meaning of the look on my face. "Don't get upset, Buck. We're yer family an' we're 'ere fer ya," dad leans down and gently kisses my cheek. I feel his paw wiping my stray tears away.
I turn my head towards dad's paw. I move my head into his paw, seeking his comfort. Dad keeps stroking my forehead. I open my eye and look up at dad blearily. "Thanks fer stayin' wi' me…" I smile a little.
Dad smiles back. "Yer welcome. Now, get some more sleep. We'll be right 'ere ta watch over ya," dad replies.
"But dad, I…I don't think I can sleep…" I mumble.
"I know 't 'urts, but everything will be alright. Th' pain will go away when ya fall asleep," dad soothes me. I slowly nod my head. I try to curl up, only to gasp from the pain. Dad stops me with a paw. "Don't move," dad whispers into my ear.
I nod my head again. I close my eye. After much trying, I am finally able to fall asleep.
The next day, I wake up still in pain. However, I'm pleased to find that it is less severe. At least, I don't hurt nearly as much. I yawn, my teeth showing. I feel a paw on my left shoulder. I turn my head to see that Taisley and my parents are still next to me. "How are you doing, Buck?" Taisley asks.
"'m fine. I still 'urt, but I feel betta today," I whisper, surprised by how hoarse my voice is. I swallow painfully. "Can I 'ave some water?" I rasp out. Mom smiles. She places her paw under my head and raises my head up. Mom brings a nut cup full of water to my lips. She holds it as I drink greedily at the water. When the cup is empty, mom lowers me back on the floor.
I wince slightly. "So, when are we leaving?" I ask.
"We're no' goin' anywhere until ya heal," mom tells me.
"Mom, we 'ave ta get away from this place! I'll be fine. 'm sure Ellie won't mind if I ride on 'er fer a while," I point out.
"He's right. I won't mind. We can leave soon, if you really think you're up to it," Ellie replies.
"'m up ta 't," I confirm. I wince when Ellie picks me up with her trunk and places me on her back. My kits are there, asleep in Ellie's fur. I smile a bit, before frowning. I can't help but think that I haven't been a very good father. With all my strokes of bad luck, I haven't been able to give my kit's the attention that they deserve. I shake those thoughts from my head. I yawn at the sudden drowsiness that I have begun to feel. I close my eye and fall back to sleep.
I wake up about an hour later to the sounds of explosions. I jerk upward, gasping from both pain and surprise. "Wot's 'appening?" I ask.
"Turns out that the volcano isn't dead!" Manny shouts while glaring at Diego.
"Hey! I told you that everyone assumed that it was dead!" Diego yells.
"Sure!" Manny rolls his eyes.
"Guys! Stop fighting! We have to get out of here!" Ellie shouts. She runs with the kits and I on her back.
The jolting causes pain to shoot through my body. I yelp. My parents and Taisley climb up onto Ellie's back. "Buck, are ya alright?" Dad asks.
"I will be once we can slow down," I break off with a whimper. I curl up on myself, gasping from the pain.
Taisley and my parents hug me, mindful of my injuries. "I'm sure we'll stop soon, Buck. Don't worry," Taisley strokes my forehead and kisses it.
I smile at her. "I love ya, Tais," I whisper.
"I love you, too, Buck," Taisley whispers back. We stay on Ellie's back like that, my arms wrapped around her and vise versa, waiting for us to reach someplace safe.
After a while, we reach the other side of the volcano, narrowly escaping the lava. We find a cave a safe distance from the volcano. Taisley jumps off of Ellie's back. Taisley gathers up some moss and leaves and begins making our nest. When that is done, Ellie picks me up and gently places me on the nest.
I curl up on the nest, wincing at the pain. Taisley lays down next to me. She places a paw on my cheek, stroking the place where my eye patch rests. "Go to sleep, Buck. We're safe here. Everything will be alright," Taisley whispers.
I smile, though I don't know if Taisley can see it. "Thanks, Tais. I love ya," I speak lovingly.
"I love you, too, Buck," Taisley replies. She yawns. I hear her breath even out as she falls asleep. I yawn, exhausted after these recent events. I close my eye. It isn't long before I fall asleep.