I shake my head as the doctor examines the bone which was lodged cozy in the Diggers throat. 'What is with these monster's always choking on something?' I think to myself, shaking my head again. I stay sitting atop my stool, not wanting to move any closer to the monster as the doctor examined it, but as I look up to see the doctor looking intently at the pricked sharp razor broken bone, I spot his hand, singed. I blink. When'd the doctor get near fire? Or any substances that burn?

Without thinking, I quickly grab the doctor's hand, his glove slightly torn and his natural sunkissed skin cut and slightly burned. "Sir what happened?" I ask, slight worry obvious in my voice. Dr. Warthrop rips the rest of the glove off without removing his hand from my own and my sight.

"I'm not quite sure. It must've been when I was removing the bone...but how?" Dr. Warthrop hums to himself as I unknowingly pull him to sit on my stool and grab a piece of cloth, wrapping it around his hand as he continues to examines his glove.

"Looks like some sort of bile...acid?" I suggest, looking at the glove with the doctor's hand still in mine. He looks up at me, his eyes sparking slightly. "Very possible. Humans have acid, mild acid to break down food but as for this" he looks at his glove. "they have a stomach of steel to hold such acidtic liquid." he grins with twisted excitement. "We will see soon." I cant help but smile and then I feel his hand twitch in mine. I look down and I can feel the heat rise to my face. I hadnt even noticed I was holding his hand...

His hands are twice the size of my own, making me forced to hold his in both my hands. He's warm...

I shake my head and drop his hand, rubbing the back of my neck. "A-all done.." I mumble, turning away from him.

DPOV

I stare at my hand for what seems like seems like hours...

His hand was remarkbly soft and tender...a bit rough from his recent working I assume. I examine the wrapped cloth around my hand and smile slightly. 'He was worried...'

I look up to spot Will Henry turned away, so I lean over a little in the stool and look at his red tainted face. I hold in the urge to laugh, though I find it much harder then usual as he seems so adorable.

Handsome, I correct myself. No young man can look so cute and make me go against everything I stand for, he's handsome, blinding beauty, a divine angel. I blink at my own thoughts. But it makes no difference if my thoughts are wrong, over the top or the thoughts of a demented perverse man, the thoughts are present.

Will Henry has grown so much...his height as changed for one; he's grown much taller but has yet to reach my own height. His eyes no longer hold the stone of childhood maturity but yet, the spark of joy and kindness that can only steam from a child is there.

His hair has changed very little, still messy more times then not in a pile of tangled brown curls...

His body, oh yes, his body has out grown that of a child and more of the delicate yet strong frame that stands before me. He's developed slight curves in his waist, oddly complimenting his lean body and broading shoulders...The small arch in his back makes-

"S-sir? Is your h-h-hand okay?" I blink, snapping my train of thought. "Yes. Just fine Will Henry, just fine." I stand, quickly dispersing those thoughts from earlier as I trail back over to the Digger.

"We know that this is a blind male Digger, his fur is rigid with what seems to be barbed wire of some sort, embedded in the skin, his claws and talons are hooked and barbed as well it seems. The Digger's jaw is split into three parts, his tongue into two and a small pouch lays behind the cheek cavity, most likely for carrying an egg or egg sack. Which means there is a high possibility that the females are unable to reproduce." I over go the collected information to try and get my mind back on track. I dont turn or look at Will Henry, or else I will most likely never dissect this monster.

"Why?" Will Henry's curious voice asks and I hold back the urge to smile. "Well if I am correct of the smoldering acid, then the child so to speak would be unable to burst out it's mother without injury or death. The child of a Digger is born by eating it's way out. Say if the child were to do so within it's mother's stomach, the acid would burst and kill them both." I spare a glance and spot Will Henry's mixed expression of awe and shock. I let myself smile just a bit, still turned so he couldnt see. "So...we should find a female near by?" I turn around and tilt my head in question. "Why do you assume that?"

"W-well...ummm...H-he's cheek..." I motion with my hand for him to continue. "What about it Will Henry?" he looks down at the floor but continues none the less. "Well...a-a small almost plastic shed is in it...A-and then...theres the m-monster's throat..." Will Henry stands and walks next to me, his eyes on the digger. "This is just a guess, but this" he points to a small scratch wound near the second row of teeth.

"and these" he motions around the rest, and I spot tiny red marks all over. He pulling his hand back from the creatures mouth and shrugs. "they look as if something clawed its way down. As if the egg sack busted in it's mouth and naturally knew where to go but didnt know it was still in the male Digger's mouth." I nod, putting this information together as I tower over Will Henry a bit, looking over the monster itself. "Very observant Will Henry! The female, or this whole clan cant be more then a few weeks, even days away!"

"But sir Emanuel said-"

"Italy yes...Why would he lie?"

Cause Emanuel never changes

I sigh but pat Will Henry's shoulder. "Very good. Lets continue."

WPOV

It has been a tiring day. I was right, surprisingly enough, about the acid. Their saliva alone can burn someone! The doctor is just finishing up opening the rest of the organs, though we still havent found any evidence of the o-

"Ha! Here it is!" The doctor holds up a small, hairless dead barbed skin digger, my guess is its the offspring. "Where-"

"In his kidney. It dug in there." The doctor hums and I just...stare at it. It was covered in slime and who knows what else…..

"Well? What are you just standing there for Will Henry? Snap to boy snap to!" I jump up and hurry to collect a jar, then hurry back to the doctor. He drops the….dead infant inside the jar and I twist the lid on tight and put the jar on top of his desk behind me. I feel desperately dizzy and light headed. Before I can say another word, I fall unconscious.

I awake a few hours later, a cold rag on my head. "S….si-" my words slip into a harsh coughing attack as I try and sit up, try to hurry back to my duty by the doctor's side. A hand on my shoulder keeps me down."Keep quiet Will Henry." Comes the doctor's soft reply as I blink more to try and relieve the blurriness in my eyes, but even after I blink it all away, I keep my eyes shut, my lids heavy. I gulp in a heavy set of air and nod, laying back on what I assume is my bed. Nothing is said for what seems like hours and I slowly fall asleep. The last push of my sleep is given to me by the doctor himself; A warm tender hand on my cheek. I nuzzle the hand before I am once again unconscious.