[A/N] This POV is Vail's, as she is the only one who can hear Kroova's thoughts.
*Vail's thoughts*
~Kroova's thoughts~
-Talon's thoughts-
My head snapped up, listening intently for the mental call that rang through my head not two seconds before. I stared at mom, trying to believe what I was hearing.
~…need to move, need to tell Talon--~
*Mom?*
~…Vail? How am I speaking to you?~
*Inside your head. What happened? Why can't you move?*
~That's a scary question; I have no idea…~
*Jenny says you're in a coma… but that would mean your mind is inactive.*
~In that case, I'm definitely not in a coma. I need to get up and tell Talon--~ Her thought was suddenly blocked off by a demanding heave from her stomach. I jumped up and turned her on her side. Just in time, too; she expelled the contents of her stomach as soon as she was on her side. I wiped her mouth clean, grimacing at the smell of the stuff.
~That's getting annoying…~ I laughed out loud at her thought.
*What do you need to tell Talon? I could relay a message for you.*
~Well, it's not really so much telling as it is showing…~
*Meaning?*
~…Lift up the blanket.~
Hesitantly, I did as I was told, only to drop the blanket again in shock; both from mom's thoughts and the sight that greeted me.
*That is a very good reason to need to get up,*
~I know… but no matter what I try, I can't move. And if I don't stop throwing up soon, things aren't going to turn out very well… for either of us.~
I bit my lip, wondering if I should run and get Talon. He should have been the first to know, but if my guess was correct, Jenny and Jelly both already knew.
*Do you want me to get him?*
~Yes… would you be able to stay connected with me as you went? It's nice to be able to talk to someone~
*I'll try. It all depends on how far away Talon is.*
I left the den, keeping one part of my mind touching moms'. I headed for the main clearing, where everyone had gathered for the wrestling tournament. I could see most of the toms there, hoping they could beat Tamm, Mercuos, and Wallen. Rosa and Lizarre were standing next to the three toms, both of them looking like they owned the world. My eyes searched through the crowd for Talon's gold fur... there he was! On the far side of the clearing. I darted forward, weaving through the cats who were preparing to fight.
"Talon!" I called to him, trying to divert his attention from coaching Pouncival and Tumblebrutus.
"Don't let him see your back," he said dryly. I couldn't tell if he was ignoring me or not. I narrowed my eyes and decided a different tactic.
*Come with me,* I thought. His head whipped around, searching for the sound.
-That was weird…-
*Are you going to keep ignoring me, or are you going to listen?*
-Wha—Vail? How are you inside my head?-
*I'll tell you later; that's not important. Now, are you going to sit here watching those toms wrestle, or are you going to listen to me?*
-What do you want?-
*Mom's been asking for you*
Talon took off running without another word, leaving everyone else very confused in the clearing; they hadn't been aware of the mental conversation. I ran after him, catching up just as we reached Jenny's medical den.
~He's here, isn't he? I can sense him!~
*Yes, he's here. I will have to act as a translator for now, since you can't move*
~But wait, look! I've been working on this~
I could feel her focus all her attention on her eyelids, and I watched them curiously. They fluttered for a moment before opening a crack. I smiled.
*So as long as we keep working at it, you'll be moving in no time*
~But I've been working on that since I've been able to think clearly. Do you know how long that took?~
I paled.*Almost ten hours*
~Huh. I didn't think it was that long. But anyway, getting my whole body to move will take longer than we have~
"What did you mean, she was asking for me?"
"Exactly what I said," I turned to the gold tom. "I didn't say she was physically asking for you."
Talon frowned. "You can hear her thoughts?" he guessed.
I nodded. "She needs to tell you something."
"But how can she, when she can't speak?"
~I'm right here, guys. Don't talk about me like I'm not here!~
"Well, he can't hear you, so that's something you'll have to live with." I poked my tongue out at mom, sending a mental picture of it at the same time. Her breath heaved out like she was trying to laugh. I narrowed my eyes, contemplating. "I'm going to try and connect your minds together, but I'll have to stay connected as well. Are you both willing to try that?" Talon nodded, and I heard an affirmative from mom. I reached out my mind, pulling both of their minds towards each other. When they met, the strangest sensation came over me.
It was like we were standing on a blank field, each of us in the same position we'd been in before. Mom blinked, and sat up. I smiled. She could move as much as she wanted in her mind, so this new perspective was better.
"Talon!" Mom ran—more like glided—forward, throwing her arms around his neck. "I've been so worried about you!"
"About me?" Talon asked incredulously. He was still trying to take in the fact that he was inside of her mind. "You've been the one in a coma for nearly two days!"
"Not a coma," I said. "She just doesn't have any energy."
"Well…" Talon looked from me to mom. "Why not?"
"I have a theory about that," I said. I extended my mind out, searching for the other four who could join us easily. Finding them, I gave a good yank, pulling them into our little rendezvous. Pike looked startled, Cori and Tanto seemed calm, but Misto's face flooded with guilt as soon as he saw mom. I grinned at him. "This little guy," I said, grabbing him by his arm and pulling him forward, "tried to use your own energy when he tried to replace the mental block. Obviously, there wasn't enough and now you don't have enough energy to move." I turned to the shame-faced conjurer. "Isn't that right?"
Misto nodded. "I didn't realize what I was doing until…" He gulped, obviously terrified of what I could do to him. "It wasn't my fault."
"Of course not," I said, adopting a kitten-ish tone to my voice. "You were just twying to be a good wittle tom."
"We take it you have thought up a solution?" Coricopat and Tantomile said in unison.
I stared at them for a moment. Creepy… I blinked and shook my head. "I haven't gotten that far yet…" I admitted.
"I think all we have to do is transfer our energy into mom's body, and she'll be able to move."
Mom smiled at Pike, who'd spoken up. I grinned at my brother. "I do believe we have a solution, then."
"First order of business," Pike said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Talon can't last much longer here; he doesn't have enough energy."
We all glanced at the gold tom, who was trying his best to stay standing. I nodded. "I need the four of you," I gestured to Pike, Coricopat, Tantomile, and Mistoffelees, "To get to Jenny's medical den as soon as you get back to your bodies. No excuses." I stared pointedly at the tuxedo tom. "Everyone clear?" They all nodded. "Good." I released my hold on everyone's minds.
…
Talon sat on a small seat, watching us as we stood around the head of mom's bed. I placed my right paw on her forehead and my left on Misto's shoulder, encouraging the others to do the same. Standing like that, we formed a tight circle around her. I closed my eyes and began pushing as much energy as I could spare into her body.
[A/N] I feel the need to reassure some readers…
Insanemistosingsmore and Roselna: Obviously, since Kroova is my OC, I cannot kill her. Because that would be a deranged form of suicide. So no worries!