Disclaimer: ToL belongs to Namco...

Author's Note: This may not be the comedy that the first story was, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

------------------

Chapter 1

Jay sat up in his bed, his body aching, his blood burning. Immediately, he knew what the problem was.

"No...I can't be sick...not again..."

His mind automatically flashed back to the last time he was sick. He was helplessly wrapped in the blanket, while the stupid bandit was free to have his way with him. The things Moses did were embarrassing, and served no real purpose, and certainly did not help Jay to recover.

Quppo and Poppo came into the room, both raising an eye in concern.

"Jay, are you all right?" Poppo asked.

"Jay, you don't look so good...ors," Quppo said.

Jay set his feet on the floor, waiting for the aches to go away, but it just wasn't happening. "No...this can't...this can't be happening..."

He jumped out of bed and stumbled to the door, where he lost his footing and tumbled down the revolving staircase. The Oresoren quickly followed him down to check on him.

"Jay, you shouldn't move around," Quppo said.

"If you're sick, you should stay in bed," Poppo added. "Ors..."

Jay picked himself up shakily. "I will...but not here."

"Why not?"

"If the others find out...no...if that bandit finds out..." Jay's breathing sped up. "No...I can't let that happen again!"

"What happened?" the otters asked.

"The last time I was sick...Moses took advantage of it. He picked on me and made fun of me. I think he was getting back at me for all those times..."

"Maybe you should be nicer to him," Poppo said.

"Yeah...I'll be nicer when he starts being smarter," Jay said. Like that'll ever happen...

He then stood up shakily. "Please help me pack."

"Where are you going?" Poppo questioned.

"Somewhere safe," Jay replied. "Somewhere, where I can rest in solitude without anyone to bother me."

With the Oresoren's help, Jay packed an ample supply of food, along with a cot and sleeping bag. Then they traveled all the way down to the bottom of the Great Hollow, where Poppo had built his secret workshop.

"Oh, so you're going to rest in Poppo's workshop," Pippo said.

"Yes, very few people know of this shop," Jay said. "Senel and the others know about it, but I doubt they'd expect me to hide down here."

"We should tell them that you'll be gone so that they don't look for you," Poppo suggested.

"That's a good idea," Jay said. "Just don't tell them where I've gone, and especially that I'm ill. And that goes double for that stupid bandit! If I'm not back within seven days, come get me."

"Leave it to us, ors, ors," Poppo said.

The Oresoren set up the cot and sleeping bag, then began to leave.

"Feel better soon, Jay," Pippo called.

"Don't forget to take your medicine, Jay," Quppo added.

"I won't," Jay replied. "Thank you."

"Byyyyeee...ors, ors." The three Oresoren left the room, closing the door softly.

Jay smiled weakly before looking down at himself. His stomach was hurting now, growling. Unpacking the food, he put together a tuna sandwich with lettuce and began to nibble on it. He began to think to himself about how he was feeling, physically and emotionally.

Physically, he felt terrible. His muscles were still aching, still screaming at him to stop moving. His arms trembled as the hands gripped the sandwich. He couldn't wait to get to sleep. But his brain had to keep telling his body to hold on just a little longer.

Eating the sandwich was difficult, too. His stomach had been growling, yet he didn't feel hungry. But he knew he had to eat. It felt like he had to force it down.

Emotionally, he felt somewhat peaceful. No one but the Oresoren knew that he was down here. No one would bother him, so he could rest without interruption. That would mean a faster recovery. He was as safe as he could possibly be.

But he sure felt lonely.

Perhaps I should have asked the Oresoren to stay with me... Jay thought.

But it didn't matter. Lonely or not, he was safe here, and that was the most important thing.

Once he had finished eating his sandwich, Jay crawled into the sleeping bag on top of the cot and began to sleep.