Here you are. You spoiled, lucky people.
I wasn't planning on posting this today... I was going to make you all wait a little longer...
I wrote pretty much all of this this morning, feeling that I didn't have much done and forced myself to do it. I actually ended up writing more than I expected.
Look out for mistakes, please. I need to go now, got to do stuff, I want to get this up. So here's chapter 7!
Read and Review! Show your gratitude! Rawr!
Chapter 7
The day went on from there. Sniffles assigned everyone a job, and no one was in the mood to question his authority.
Cuddles went out to get more food. Sniffles agreed with Flippy – there wasn't much here, and it was best if they went out and got more now rather than later. Since Cuddles was the fastest of the three helpers, he would be able to go from house to house and bring back food.
Giggles went out to go fetch her mom. Although Sniffles was against the idea (Flaky had told him that the chipmunk's mother wasn't sick), the fact was that everyone needed clothes. Shirts and bellbottom pants weren't going to last anyone long. So, after gathering everyone's consent, Giggles was to go get her mom and visit every house that had usable material, return, and help her sew more clothing.
For the first few hours of this arrangement, Flaky was with Sniffles, helping the anteater fix hospital beds for the others, organize medicine, and bring out other materials they would need. At one point Sniffles went to check on his own room. Flaky was in search of a specific doctors robe (it had been modified with the open back for her quills) when a tap fell on her shoulder.
Out of habit, Flaky squeaked and tensed, the hair on her back rising up much like her quills used to. But the inch long quills that were hidden beneath the mane of hair couldn't hurt anyone by themselves, they were too short. So Flippy wasn't hurt by her surprise, but respectfully took a step back and waited for Flaky to calm herself down.
"Oh, hi Flippy. I-I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you."
"It's alright Flaky; I'm sorry for–"
Flippy paused, turned away and began a round of coughs. Flaky flinched, but then forced herself to pat the bear firmly on the back, hoping it helped. Truthfully, she was terrified of the possibility of getting sick herself, but she didn't like seeing her friends like this. Some of them could barely talk without something similar to this happening.
"Here," a voice said. Flaky turned and saw she was being handed a glass of water. Petunia was holding the pitcher. She'd been giving a cup to everyone in the heavy ward.
Flaky thanked the skunk and took the water, giving it to Flippy once his coughs had settled down. They threatened to start up again as the bear drank, but he managed to swallow it all without spilling any. Frowning in worry, Flaky pushed Flippy back and made him sit down on an empty bed near the back of the room.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Flippy answered. His voice sounded strained – he swallowed a few times before saying anything else. "Sorry about that."
"Oh, it's okay."
"Hm. Anyways, I was going to ask you something."
"Uh huh?"
"What does Sniffles plan to do about the hole in the tree?"
Flaky had to pause for a moment, tiny brows furrowed, her brain analyzing the data. For a second the question sounded ridiculous, but suddenly Flaky realized what the bear meant.
"Oh! The hole that Lumpy made with his truck? I don't know – Sniffles didn't say anything about it. I don't know what he plans to do about it."
"You should ask him. It would be best to get that hole patched up as soon as possible."
"I don't see the big deal," Lammy said from Flaky's other side. She had set Mr. Pickles on a tiny table beside the bed, and wrapped herself in the thin white blankets as if cold. "It's the middle of spring. The weather is nice."
Flippy nodded. "Yes. But there's no point in quarantine if the disease can get out of the tree."
"Oh. Well, I guess that makes sense. Well, maybe Handy could help you with it. He's in the light ward, isn't he? It wouldn't be too big a deal if he goes out."
Flaky thought about that. It was true that Handy wasn't very sick, Sniffles would probably allow it. And Handy was always the one who fixed things in the first place. You know, when hands weren't involved and when no one was really around to see him do it…
"I don't see why not. What about you Flippy?"
The bear shrugged and stretched. "Go ahead and ask him. But if you end up helping him out with it, be careful, okay?"
"Okay," Flaky said. She turned before they could see her blushing at his worry. Flippy had always been a little like an older brother to the porcupine, always keeping an eye on her when they were together, when he wasn't flipped-out. It was a little sad, because he always felt so guilty whenever he killed her during his 'episodes'. He would always be right there when she was reborn, apologizing over and over again in that shy way of his. Though Flaky didn't say it, his treatment of her made the porcupine feel special. It was nice to know someone cared.
She opened the door to the light ward. She'd been here about an hour ago, what with both Cuddles and Giggles out and about. She'd taken the stairs to get here. Unlike the heavy ward, it was much smaller, just big enough for the four beds that supported the four patients that would be staying. Pop and Cup had joined their beds and were taking a nap, while it seemed Handy and Disco Bear were playing a game of cards. As Flaky walked over she saw how Handy's cards kept falling from his nubs, and gently giggled at the characteristic scowl that overtook his face with each fail.
Flaky greeted them quietly, and they both greeted her back, Disco Bear with a little more inflection than the beaver across. Flaky whimpered and stepped a bit away from the afro'd bear. She never really liked him. He was much too flirty.
"Handy, I-I was w-wondering if you m-might help w-with the h-hole in the tree that Lumpy made with his t-truck…"
Handy blinked lazily. And then he said, "You should work on that stuttering. It's going to drive someone crazy sooner or later." Flaky blushed at the statement and quickly attempted to apologize, though the stutters kept it long. Handy chuckled at her flushed face and gave her a pat on the head (though it was more like a thump, what with him having no hands). "I'm just kidding! Don't get so wound up about it. And sure, if I must, I'll clean up that stupid moose's mess. But I'll need someone to move the car."
"I can do that," Flaky stated quietly. She could drive alright. Handy nodded and followed Flaky out of the ward.
On the way they met Sniffles and told him about the plan. The anteater nodded in approval, and Flaky blushed as he complimented Flaky for her idea. She tried to tell him that it was all because of Flippy's own concern, but she stuttered so much from the unexpected compliment that hardly anything came out, and it was all incoherent, much to the amusement of both males.
Sniffles went along with them to supervise. Handy examined the damage as Flaky carefully climbed into the driver's seat. Lumpy's keys were still in the ignition. Faint light fell in from above, through the holes made by Lumpy's sharp antlers. Flaky shivered and made a mental note to have someone file both Lumpy and Mime's antlers. She could imagine what kind of trouble they could get into. Or who they could get into…
She waited for Handy to tell her to try and back out of the hole. Turning the key, she pulled the stick into reverse and stepped on the gas pedal. For a second the truck moved, but one wheel was stuck against part of the tree, the other caught inside a hole and half flat from loss of air. Sniffles had to help Handy lift it up and out of the hole in the tree before Flaky could back it away from them.
Then Handy went to work. Sniffles had gone to do his regular duties, and Flaky was parking the truck a ways away, near the back of the tree. When she walked back around she could see a tree at the edge of the clearing give way. She jumped in surprise at the impact as it crushed against the earth. Handy called from beyond the trees for Flaky to bring him some rope. She did as she was told. Handy had chewed the trunk into pieces and Flaky helped him bring those pieces back to the hospital-tree in trips.
"What do you need all of this for?" Flaky asked.
Handy said, "Sniffles told me there aren't any saws or hammers or nails around here, so I'm going to have to fix this hole the good ol' fashion way. Thanks," he added as Flaky settled the last slabs of wood along with the others, which stood in a pile. "Alrighty then, I'll need you to go and fetch a few buckets of water; you can get them from the sinks or tubs."
With a nod, Flaky departed. She couldn't find any buckets, but there were big enough bowls in the kitchen, so she used those. The hospital-tree itself was very clean and open. The floors were wood, with only the bathrooms and kitchen being otherwise. The wards were carpeted flooring. With high ceilings and short hallways, it was a wide environment, one that Flaky enjoyed. It always smelt like cleaning supplies, too. Sniffles didn't allow it to get too filthy.
She brought the bowls out one by one, and by the time she had a fourth bowl outside, Handy had chewed the logs into long rectangular strips. He was munching on some of the wood when Flaky came out with the last bowl. "Ah, you got'em all! Bowls will work better than buckets, good work Flaky!"
"Th-thank you, H-Handy. W-what do you want m-me to do n-now?"
"Put some dirt in the bowls and mix it up real good."
It was a strange command, but Flaky followed instructions. Digging up handfuls of dirt (she let her claws slide out), she gently dropped them into the bowls of water. Once a bowl was nearly filled, Flaky would mix it up with her hands until it became squishy mud. Handy would glance over at her from time to time, telling here when there was too much mud, not enough water or vice versa.
Then, once the porcupine was finished, Handy began patching the hole up. With wood and mud.
It was interesting to watch. The orange beaver would take a piece of wood, grab a handful of mud, and then lather the wet dirt in the spot he was going to put it. He started at the inside first, filling in the gap with slaps going straight across the hole. But as the finished the first layer, Handy asked Flaky to go and get sticks, twigs and leaves. She fetched the materials he asked for and eventually assisted in the reconstruction of the wall. He showed her how to do it. She would grab a handful of mud, a fistful of twigs and leaves and then use both to fill in holes between larger pieces of wood. Then she would step back and allow Handy to use his tail to pat it firmly down.
It took almost three hours, but Flaky was surprised to find she was having fun doing it. As the sun began to set, she saw three figures in the distance, emerging from the trees. It was Giggles, Cuddles, and Giggles's mother. The rabbit was pulling two wheelbarrows, each overflowing with cans and packets of food, some of it being wrapped or sealed in plastic. Both Giggles and her mom were carrying armfuls of clothes. Flaky could pick out rolls of Disco Bear's outfits, some of Flippy's army jackets and undershirts, as well as shirts that belonged to Mime, the Mole, and some of Lammy's own sweaters. They also carried curtains, blankets, sheets – anything that could be used to make clothes. Flaky was impressed with their load.
Handy spotted them too, and waved Flaky off when she turned back to the beaver. "Go along and help them bring stuff in," he told her kindly. "But you should probably go wash your hands first. You're covered in mud." This last bit came out as a chuckle, and Flaky blushed. She must look something close to a lake monster – or worse, Russell back from sea.
The porcupine dashed inside. Going straight for the bathroom, she saw Petunia and Nutty talking outside of the heavy ward. Flaky paused and debated on whether or not to go over and shoo them back into the room. They weren't supposed to be outside. But the skunk spotted Flaky before the porcupine could say anything. Petunia seemed to make a guilty face; then she took Nutty by the arm and guided him back into the ward, closing the door behind them.
Flaky released a breath but found something odd, out of place. Maybe they just didn't like being cooped up in one spot, her brain reasoned. Flaky decided to shrug the occurrence off. A tiny act of rebellion never hurt anybody.
Quickly, Flaky washed off her hands and feet, and then sighed as she inspected her curtain dress. It was caked in dried mud, resembling something like a dirty grape. Flaky hoped that she wouldn't have to sleep in these clothes.
Cuddles, Giggles and the chipmunk's mother had already entered when Flaky exited the bathroom. Ms. Giggles greeted Flaky with a smile, and Flaky responded in kind.
The day settled. Luckily for Flaky, Flippy suggested she borrow one of his own shirts for the night since her dress was ruined. She thanked him, blushing, and also received a pair of camouflage pants from Ms. Giggles, who had made a few pairs for Flippy. Everyone else got clothes back, too. Some of the girls got clothes made out of shirts from the boys, while also getting dresses or skirts from the sheets Ms. Giggles brought back.
When it got dark everyone was too tired from the excitement of the day to fix anything elaborate. Mostly they just ate a few cans of soup, maybe some pieces of desserts or meats. Flaky made herself a sandwich with not much on it. It took her last bit of energy just to finish that.
Everyone went to their rooms, tired and weary from the day and their illness. It seemed that Ms. Giggles was catching it too, but not as bad as the others, so Sniffles allowed her to stay out of the wards. The anteater was sharing his room with Cuddles, while Giggles and Flaky would be sleeping on the third floor of the building alone. At first the thought frightened Flaky, being so far away from the others (and the ground), but Giggles gave her friend a hug, reassuring her that the chipmunk would sleep right beside her.
And so they went to bed. Flaky, though exhausted both physically and mentally, didn't fall right to dreamland. Her mind went over everything that had happened in that single day – the change, the clothes, the illness, the division. She wondered if this was just a passing occurrence, something that happened in the Valley and was supposed to happen. The possibility of them all dying from the disease came to her mind more than once, but she tried not to think much about that.
Their room had a window, a round one. It let in some of the soft, silvery light from outside. Flaky could see the hundreds of stars stretch across the sky, and the moon highlighting each tip and curve of the leaves on the trees. Flaky liked the sky, but not because of the beauty. Flaky liked to think that somewhere, another animal that wasn't in Happy Tree Valley could see it, the same sky that she saw. That even though she was trapped inside of this cursed town, forced to be reborn and trapped here because of it, there was still something she could share with that far away creature. It was interesting to think that somewhere, a creature might be staring up at the sky, and the sky might be the last thing it ever sees.